I was trying to be the one to calm down flames ended up with the wrong extinguisher
well, the last several weeks and months, there hads been a push by Lisa Przekop, myself, and others to try to get the reunion planning started. I had a FB group set up for the class a couple of years ago, making me, her, and the class officers administrators so that we could get as many people from the class together on there as possible, so when it came time for the reunion planning it could be done easier. Sounds like a decent plan.
Then a couple of months ago, given that 2017 was upon us, me, Lisa, and several others started pushing to get the plans started, knowing facilities would be needed as well as invites sent out, etc. Good intentions.
A couple of weeks ago, Class Secretary Lynette decided to surprise most of the class with a huge messenger chat about the reunion without anyone else knowing about it beforehand, dealing with ideas on places, dinners, dates, themes, etc. wasn't the perfect meeting, but at least one or two general ideas were hashed out. Volunteers were asked for to get things rolling, I volunteered to get the names/addresses and such into an updated file, and hearing no objections, Lynette and others said OK. That list is being built as an XLS spreadsheet as we speak. ok.
The starting last week, it ends up some tensions started brewing under the surface with Lynette, much to my surprise today. And Lisa was trying to hide them from me, because I was one of the supposed problems. everything from thinking that I was too "AR" about getting the list together (admitedly yes maybe I am a bit, but what else can I do 1000 miles away from where I graduated) to saying I'm a fat slob. Harsh to find out this, yes. But I'm fat, I know it. Yes it was meant as an insult, but I admit I let it roll off because I'm not going to sugar coat things, and it's a fact. I won't deny that. As for some of the other stuff, like hatred between Lisa and Lynette, Lynette and Chris Litch, and allegations about money being stolen from the last reunion by the class treasurer, worried about us as a class weren't classy enouhg for a country club, worried about someone throwing a fit about it not being partially organized by them and maybe wanting to call in a bomb threat (which is a felony, btw, and I don't think would risk 10+ yrs in jail for something that petty). And other allegations being thrown around too.
Was there other things on all of our lives that were causing tension outside of DC? for sure. I'm not going to go through them all as I see them as I don't want to break any more confidences. But more than a few people started this fight, and to be honest, I wanted to help put it out before things started by putting some of the heat on me instead of Lisa. After all, Lisa was busting her butt despite her illnesses to try to get things together, work with Lynette and others, whole 9 yards. And then she gets a call today that all her help was totally screwed over, because she was trying to get things done. And she only put all of what she said out there because of the frustration she has gone through in all of this.
So yes, I suggested roasting me in order to have people think about how to make that venting happen in a possibly funny way, maybe even a way to raise money for charity (like maybe Juvenile Diabetes for example, since one of my nephews was diagnosed type 1 at 1 yr old, and almost died several months before I got this job in St. Paul). Yes I did think about that too much, being at a comedy club the previous night, and given what was supposedly said about me, etc, figuring that would be a way to start to diffuse things. good idea, but unfortunately easily mis-inturpreted.
What ended up happening is I got a complaint that I threw a now former friend under a bus, when I did no such thing. I am supposedly hated by several people now just because I'm trying to do what I can while there's a severe outbreak threatening several other classmates and others in the southeast US, thinking maybe about watching the football game (that went as well as the game scores themselves).
I'm sorry for being who I am, how I evolved as a person. whether that is caring too much about others that I forget to take care of myself, including putting myself in the sacrifice chair, or trying to diffuse fights as best I can among otherwise friendly people in my friend list so it doesn't get out of hand, or whether I try to get the back end of tihngs done technically as well as I can, to be sure there's less confusion all around. you know, trying to keep things as simple as possible.
So for the sake of this class endeavor so that we can actually have a good party and not need an MMA ring, if you have any skeletons in peoples' closets, get them settled now. If you don't like working with several people because of their style, let them know NOW, so things can go smoother. and if you don't like certain people within our class for whatever reason, please get it out of your system now. I am planning to be there not only to see everyone again, but also to see my nieces and nephews, as well as my mom and brothers, who I haven't hugged and been with in person for since my dad died.
If you want me to still be a part of this, say so. If you need me to step aside, let me know. I just lost one friend over this tonight, I don't want to lose anyone else. But if I have to for the greater good, please say so.
Then a couple of months ago, given that 2017 was upon us, me, Lisa, and several others started pushing to get the plans started, knowing facilities would be needed as well as invites sent out, etc. Good intentions.
A couple of weeks ago, Class Secretary Lynette decided to surprise most of the class with a huge messenger chat about the reunion without anyone else knowing about it beforehand, dealing with ideas on places, dinners, dates, themes, etc. wasn't the perfect meeting, but at least one or two general ideas were hashed out. Volunteers were asked for to get things rolling, I volunteered to get the names/addresses and such into an updated file, and hearing no objections, Lynette and others said OK. That list is being built as an XLS spreadsheet as we speak. ok.
The starting last week, it ends up some tensions started brewing under the surface with Lynette, much to my surprise today. And Lisa was trying to hide them from me, because I was one of the supposed problems. everything from thinking that I was too "AR" about getting the list together (admitedly yes maybe I am a bit, but what else can I do 1000 miles away from where I graduated) to saying I'm a fat slob. Harsh to find out this, yes. But I'm fat, I know it. Yes it was meant as an insult, but I admit I let it roll off because I'm not going to sugar coat things, and it's a fact. I won't deny that. As for some of the other stuff, like hatred between Lisa and Lynette, Lynette and Chris Litch, and allegations about money being stolen from the last reunion by the class treasurer, worried about us as a class weren't classy enouhg for a country club, worried about someone throwing a fit about it not being partially organized by them and maybe wanting to call in a bomb threat (which is a felony, btw, and I don't think would risk 10+ yrs in jail for something that petty). And other allegations being thrown around too.
Was there other things on all of our lives that were causing tension outside of DC? for sure. I'm not going to go through them all as I see them as I don't want to break any more confidences. But more than a few people started this fight, and to be honest, I wanted to help put it out before things started by putting some of the heat on me instead of Lisa. After all, Lisa was busting her butt despite her illnesses to try to get things together, work with Lynette and others, whole 9 yards. And then she gets a call today that all her help was totally screwed over, because she was trying to get things done. And she only put all of what she said out there because of the frustration she has gone through in all of this.
So yes, I suggested roasting me in order to have people think about how to make that venting happen in a possibly funny way, maybe even a way to raise money for charity (like maybe Juvenile Diabetes for example, since one of my nephews was diagnosed type 1 at 1 yr old, and almost died several months before I got this job in St. Paul). Yes I did think about that too much, being at a comedy club the previous night, and given what was supposedly said about me, etc, figuring that would be a way to start to diffuse things. good idea, but unfortunately easily mis-inturpreted.
What ended up happening is I got a complaint that I threw a now former friend under a bus, when I did no such thing. I am supposedly hated by several people now just because I'm trying to do what I can while there's a severe outbreak threatening several other classmates and others in the southeast US, thinking maybe about watching the football game (that went as well as the game scores themselves).
I'm sorry for being who I am, how I evolved as a person. whether that is caring too much about others that I forget to take care of myself, including putting myself in the sacrifice chair, or trying to diffuse fights as best I can among otherwise friendly people in my friend list so it doesn't get out of hand, or whether I try to get the back end of tihngs done technically as well as I can, to be sure there's less confusion all around. you know, trying to keep things as simple as possible.
So for the sake of this class endeavor so that we can actually have a good party and not need an MMA ring, if you have any skeletons in peoples' closets, get them settled now. If you don't like working with several people because of their style, let them know NOW, so things can go smoother. and if you don't like certain people within our class for whatever reason, please get it out of your system now. I am planning to be there not only to see everyone again, but also to see my nieces and nephews, as well as my mom and brothers, who I haven't hugged and been with in person for since my dad died.
If you want me to still be a part of this, say so. If you need me to step aside, let me know. I just lost one friend over this tonight, I don't want to lose anyone else. But if I have to for the greater good, please say so.