I Simply Cannot Hang Out With You.

To better my chances of getting on the nice list this year, I took my Gma out for a rendezvous today.  She is a nice lady, but calls for a decent amount of patience.  The first stop was CVS because the cashier neglected to take off the right amount the last time Gma was in and used a coupon.  Gma, still insanely undone from having been chipped $3.00, insisted on returning the cough drops and vitamins.  They were tainted now, afterall.  As we left the store, Gma commented that CVS has gone to hell and that she won't be shopping there anymore.  To keep up the fun, we hit up the local dollar store.  Grandma said that she needed to get Mary plastic wine cups.  Mary is her friend from the assisted living.  Together, Mary and Gma spend their time hitting the wine and gossiping about fellow residents. The dollar store was a success so next up: Macy's! Here, Gma told the workers all about me, bragging about accomplishments, and such.  "She is almost done with grad school, and she is such a good driver."  Grandma is probably the only person who thinks that I am a good driver.

Speaking of being almost done with school, Gma told me today that it is too bad that I have schoolwork today, or else she would keep me out even longer. And then it hit me: In less than a month, my go-to excuse will be gone.  Yes, I am beyond grateful that my schooling is coming to an end.  As aforementioned in previous posts, all of those reflections are really getting me down.  Not to mention, my brain is basically fried. But, when one's load gets a little lighter, it is harder to say, "Well, I really would love to hang out with you but I have so much work to do." or "Oh, I'm sorry I couldn't possibly come over and watch your children all afternoon on my day off." Actually, that sounds like a pretty damn valid thing to say.  Anyway, I've literally been banking on this excuse for a year and a half now.  On the bright side, maybe I will learn how to say no.  What I really want to say is just, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry but I simply cannot attend." I think I will start doing that.  Oh, I'm terribly sorry but I simply cannot come to work today.  Oh, I'm terribly sorry but I simply cannot go out with you." This is great, actually. Who needs excuses, real or not? A simply cannot should suffice.