Plays Well With Others

aka: Annual Job Review. I have to admit these are NOT my favorite boss-to-employee meetings. How politically incorrect of me. In other words let me be perfectly clear: I hated them. I especially dreaded the ones at an establishment where I was employed earlier in my career. Never any fun. Always began on the "you do this very well.....blah blah blah...". Then WHAM!!?@##* you got your feet knocked right out from under you with this unending list of stuff that not only erased all the good stuff they said about you but made you want to grab your jacket and head home to eat comfort food and read a good book. For about a month. No kidding. I felt like I was back in the third grade reading my report card where the teacher made her comments like "very bright" and "her grades are at the top of the class" followed by "has lots of creativity--perhaps she needs to have an outlet where she could express her artistic ability away from the classroom" or "is just a little bit bossy"or "likes to talk during quiet periods". UGH.

During the above mentioned employment period a sweatshirt I found in a catalog. It was black with white lettering that summed it all up better than I ever could verbally express my true opinion blending my fond remembrances of my elementary days plus the belittling I felt exposed to yearly. PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS When I spied that on the glossy pages of their offerings I pounced right on that baby. Whatever I had written down as my number one gift idea just had become my number two choice. Talk about perfect!!

And guess what?? I got my wish! One of the boxes I unwrapped under the tree that year was the real deal and I wore that piece of clothing with pride. Because you know what?? I did play well with others then and I still do now. There was also another sweatshirt shown on the same page that read Runs With Scissors and I felt a bond with that sentiment as well. Heavens!! Who ever would do that??! ( a sharp collective intake of breath could be heard in the silent conference room reflecting the review board's shock at such outlandish behavior ).

Who? Perhaps "Guess Who?" would be more appropriate....hmmmm?