My apology goes out to a telemarketer by the name of ‘Jeff’ of the San Jose Fire Fighter [Department(?)]. He called this evening asking for my commitment on behalf of burn victims in Valley Medical for some sort of event in contemporary arts.
I heard the crackling in his voice similar to a disappointment filled with tears after I told him a generic response of: ‘Sorry, I’m not interested’. In my mind I did not want to receive anything through regular mail by disclosing our home address.
But in my heart I wanted to ‘donate’ something for the guy’s time and effort in calling us in the first place. It’s difficult to flatly say, ‘No’, to anyone without giving some sort of chance for the caller to be heard. I did not want to let anyone down with my bad manners tonight.
Once again, I’m an idiot when speaking over the phone. I could have properly responded by saying, ‘I will think about what you said, sir. But please give me your website (or a contact number) so that I may do further research (or call you back) on when I have the chance’.
I am the primary interceptor of these phone calls at night, by the way. So it would be wise not to mess with me. I may have to write another letter to update our phone numbers with the ‘Do Not Call’ list. This should stop these unwanted phone calls from happening for another few years.
In the future, perhaps any generic script for these sorts of calls would be useful to avoid embarrassment or offense whatsoever. I guess I did not use my brain all that well tonight and as usual for not being too quick witted with anything ‘out of the ordinary’.
Recently, there have been these evening phone calls since last week from the ‘fire fighters’ to my parents’ home number, which has always been unlisted. Each time I answer their phone calls they would ask if there is a lady of the house. I would tell them, ‘I am sorry but they are no available at the moment. Is there a message I could take?’
Of course the prior telemarketers would say their thanks, goodbyes and hang up. However, this particular caller, ‘Jeff’, went further by stating the purpose of his phone call. At least I know there is some sort of activity involving money. Why do people bother us with such trifle sources of ‘evil’ (if you don’t mind my general usage of this word)?
Why do these people think my parents have money? Are you people confusing them from me? Besides, they have fixed incomes, which is typical for some older and retired folks. They are quite wary of any callers they do not recognize and would not go further than necessary.
Speaking of fixed income, our local church has these volunteers who hover around my parents at the establishment or at the McDonald’s restaurant after mass in the hopes of obtaining more donations. Once again, these people are probably assuming my parents have all the money in the world to be ‘nice’.
Being nice is great for those in the most need, who do not usually ask out right but have others speaking on anyone’s behalf. Today, while waiting in the Mazda sedan and sweltering in the driver’s seat under the heat of the afternoon sun, a homeless man asked me for a dollar, which I did not have.
Ever since I ‘left the company’ last month, I do not withdraw cash for fear of having nothing left. I shook my head at the elder man with salt and pepper hair and said, ‘Sorry’. As he walked away, he laid down in front of the building where we originally saw him as we parked our vehicle.
Then I ranted out the driver’s window at him (or anyone within hearing distance) saying, ‘They took everything I had! Don’t ask me again!’ I am such a foolish brat when my dark side rears its ugly head. I noticed he walked away with a ‘walkman’ device with two earplugs. He probably heard everything I said but had the windshield cover protecting the dash and hiding my face of rage. Good!
But out of pity and guilt, I thought I should withdraw some cash from the local ATM machine located inside a liquor store where I purchased my lottery ticket for Wednesday night’s drawing. I never win anything and being alive to tell my stories via this blog site is luck enough.
I went out to see if I could purchase at least a sandwich for the guy after seeing him slurping away at a large drink. After seeing him spit out the liquid, I decided not to be ‘nice’. People spitting in disgust towards the soil of Mother Earth (or in his case the cement) is already disgusting in my books. I mentally spat at him, too.
If you think he is mental, my observations of walkers and joggings in the evening wearing these listening devices make me suspicious of their activities. I have not seen their activity in and around my neighborhood until recently. These ‘ordinary’ people, including the church goers and homeless, make great perpetrators as well.
Other great ‘perps’ are the many organizations or groups that would like to have some nice sponsors or donors for various endeavors. An investor with buckteeth from many years ago has told me to be careful. That truth is noted already based on my personal experiences over the years.
So where do people in the most need get the assistance or help? Surely the fires that rage on and about us in various forms, such as wars and crimes, have been created for the purposes of those willing to put out the fires of opposition with whatever money may be available on hand.
Unfortunately, some hands are tied like mine and being locked down is no fun when there are those who really need to be protected or supported in any way possible for putting out the fires that seem to burn those victims, who do not always seem to deserve these scars of a lifetime.
By the way, the firefighters should not get too disappointed for putting out all the fires that may come their way. Some fires are elementals and letting them do their jobs, such as burning away excess undergrowth for fertile lands, is better for some of us. Fire is cleansing and putting out their healing efforts is ill advised.
Copyright © 2007 by Fluffy von der Flynn. All rights reserved.
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