I opened the refrigerator door last week to discover that two bags of frozen vegetables had been removed from the freezer, opened, and placed in the refrigerator.
The bags of vegetables were identical.
Both bags were clearly labeled: KEEP FROZEN.
Yet, the vegetables had been left in the refrigerator.
This was a major problem. And, I was furious.
Only one other person lives in our 300 sq ft studio apartment. So, I knew immediately knew who to blame.
Why had our Trader Joe’s Country Potatoes with Haricots Verts & Wild Mushrooms been carelessly moved to the refrigerator?
Each bag cost $2.99. ( A total of $6.49 with tax).
Didn’t I always say “waste not, want not?”
This was clearly wasting. And, hungry children across the globe could have feasted for a week on $6.49.
I thought about calling Morris at work to inquire about the reason for leaving frozen vegetables in the refrigerator. But, I decided against it.
Thankfully.
On the way to work, I was saved by the words of Dale Carnegie in How to Win Friends and Influence People. In Part Six of his book, Carnegie describes the great tragedy of Abraham Lincoln’s life – his marriage. For almost a quarter century, Mrs. Lincoln nagged and harassed the life out of him.
She was always complaining, always criticizing her husband; nothing about him was ever right. He was stoop-shouldered, he walked awkwardly and lifted his feet straight up and down like an Indian. She complained that there was no spring in his step, no grace in his movement; and she mimicked his gait. She didn’t like the way his huge ears stood out at right angles. She even told him that his nose wasn’t straight, and on, and on, and on. Did all this nagging and scolding and raging change Lincoln? In one way, yes. It certainly changed his attitude toward her. It made him regret his unfortunate marriage, and it made him avoid her presence as much as possible. While a circuit attorney, he remained out on the circuit for three months in the spring and three months in autumn. Other attorneys managed to return home for the weekends, but Lincoln dreaded to go home. So, he didn’t. Such are the results that Mrs. Lincoln obtained by nagging.
The aforementioned chapter is entitled, How to Dig Your Marital Grave in the Quickest Possible Way.
And after reading it, I decided that $6.49 and two bags of frozen vegetables were not worth nagging about.
By the way, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation for the vegetables to be in the refrigerator: Morris was thawing them to eat for breakfast the following morning.
This reminds me of a conversation I had with the gals two weeks ago. If we ask before assuming we will save ourselves from being stressed out and getting angry 80% of the time. This conversation started because I'm known as a dragon that spits fire before asking questions. I have been working on my rage and communicating my confusion. Thanks for sharing! I enjoyed reading.
That is the key, Deidra! Asking before assuming. And, I am learning little by little. I think we are on the right track since we recognize that our rage is hurtful, and we are working on it. Thank YOU for reading and commenting! It is always super encouraging to me to know that I am not alone in my struggles.