Wow! Compared to last winter, this one has been a breeze, hasn’t it? (Knock on wood.) Good thing, too. I don’t think Charlie’s back couldn’t have taken another February like the one we had in 2015. Because even with a plow on your truck, you still gotta snow blow the paths to the shed and the mailbox and for the oil and gas dilivery guys. Then, there’s shoveling off the deck and the steps and don’t forget, raking the roof. Swear to God, I think we still had piles of unmelted snow into April!
But this winter, we’ve actually seen the grass between small dumpings of the white stuff. And some days, it’s felt like spring is in the air. Unlike last year at this time, folks coming into the A&P are downright perky and postive.
Everyone, that is, except Claudia and Kurt Peavey, or the “Yeah-Buts,” as Charlie and me call them. I’m sure you know people like this, too. Don’t matter what you say to them, they’ll come back with, “Yeah, but….”. You can’t win for losing with this pair. Even when you pay them a compliment.
“Gee, Claudia,” I’ll say, “that sure is a pretty scarf you’re wearing.”
To which she replies, “Yeah, but it’s dry clean only. If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have bought it.”
Or I’ll go, “Kurt, I heard you got a promotion! Congratulations!”
“Yeah, but it’s a lot more responsibility, and longer hours, for not much more pay.”
What do you say to that?
Even when you agree with the Peavey’s (and I’ve tried it), they’ll “yeah but” you. It happened to Charlie the other day.
Kurt says to him, “I just heard, they finally extended Saturday hours down to the transfer station. It’s open ‘til 3:00 now.”
“I know,” Charlie replies. “That’ll make it easier for us to get down there.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know where the town’s going to find the money to pay Ernie and them to work those extra hours.”
Some people are just born contrary. My niece Caitlin says they are “on their first life.” I don’t know about that. What I do know is, all you can do with folks like that is let them stew in their own grumpiness. And report back to your spouse when you have a “yeah-but” encounter. Always good for a laugh.
So this week down to the A&P, I’m ringing Claudia Peavey out, and I say what I’d been saying to everyone. “Boy, oh boy! What a mild winter we’ve had. So much better than last year.”
“Yeah, but it really hurt the ski slopes somethin’ fierce. And besides, we’re probably going to get a ton of rain this spring.”
Honest to God!
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
IDA’S PODCAST: “Yeah, but…”
Upcoming Book Events and Performances
March 10: A Visit With Ida, 6:00pm, Hilltop Guild of the First Congregational Church, South Portland, ME
March 21: A Visit With Ida, 1:00pm, Westbrook Seniors, Westbrook, ME
April 12: Book Reading: Finding Your Inner Moose, Windham Public Library http://www.windham.lib.me.us/, 6:00pm, Windham, ME
May 19: Book Launch: The Sweet Life, details TBA
May 24: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Patten Free Library, http://www.patten.lib.me.us/ 6:30pm, Bath, ME
June 2: Book Reading: The Sweet Life, Hubbard Free Library, http://www.hubbardfree.org/ 6:00pm, Hallowell, ME
June 25: The Best of Ida, Celebration Barn Theater, http://www.celebrationbarn.com/ 8:00pm, South Paris, ME