The Random Question to End All Random Questions (hereafter "The RQTEARQ")
I'm on my way to bed, but before 'hitting the sack' (it's actually a futon with sheets, light blankets, and my new pillow) I wanted to write briefly about a phenomenon I did not experience until today, namely The RQTEARQ. I'm used to many questions from close friends, friends I see occasionally, and acquaintances I see occasionally: 'Did you graduate? What are your plans? Have you met anyone [you would like to date]? Are you working here [Meijer]??? Don't you have another year? Are you dating anyone? Have you found the right one yet?' Those are all quite normal questions and though they occasionally frustrate me a great deal, even to the point where I avoid friends of particular age groups (as much as I love them) and friends I haven't seen in a while (as much as I miss them) so as to be spared the depression and sense of failure that comes with the education and work-related questions, they are not so bad. (We won't delve further into that - my apologies if I've avoided you in the past for these reasons :-/. You really can ask them; I would do the same, and out of interest and concern as you do.)
No, all those questions are normal. Here's the kicker, The RQTEARQ, taken from the headlines of today's edition of "Spring Arbor at the 'Neighborhood' Meijer:" Are you married now? I had at least two people (and possibly three) ask me The RQTEARQ today. (I can only remember one of the people who asked - the other one or two are gone now - it was a really long day and my legs still ache.) The RQTEARQ totally floored me. As far as I knew, the last time I had a girlfriend was NEVER. Ever. EVER. In my entire life. No girlfriend. No hint of an upcoming marriage to anyone. No hint of a serious "relationship," or of any such relationship at all! That's what floored me. None of the askers of The RQTEARQ were close friends, but surely they knew me well enough to know that I didn't date and don't date and am not so sure as I plan on ever dating or marrying. Did I look married? Was it the 'ring of confusion' I wear when abroad to keep Orthodox females of foreign extraction from getting interested? (Disclaimer: That statement is not indicative of feeling sweet about myself. I hold no illusions about who I am, but I likewise hold no illusions about the attraction green cards have for some people.) Was I so exhausted from work that I looked like a harried husband? (No offense to my happily married family and friends!)
So, there's my brief report on my crazy day and The RQTEARQ :-). It was a long one and I spent most of my waking hours standing, scanning, and bagging. My back and legs ache like crazy. I don't want to work tomorrow, but it helps that I'm not scheduled again till Wednesday and that I'll be able to do dinner with Leah et alia and go to the festal services Thursday and Friday. Oh, and the upside of seeing Spring Arbor people at work today was seeing them and feeling connected to the University and its community, which was very nice. It's always good to see friends.
And now I'm off to sleep for a few hours before I have to get up again. I'm going to be super tired at church and work, but c'est la vie. Your prayers as always - you're in mine.
No, all those questions are normal. Here's the kicker, The RQTEARQ, taken from the headlines of today's edition of "Spring Arbor at the 'Neighborhood' Meijer:" Are you married now? I had at least two people (and possibly three) ask me The RQTEARQ today. (I can only remember one of the people who asked - the other one or two are gone now - it was a really long day and my legs still ache.) The RQTEARQ totally floored me. As far as I knew, the last time I had a girlfriend was NEVER. Ever. EVER. In my entire life. No girlfriend. No hint of an upcoming marriage to anyone. No hint of a serious "relationship," or of any such relationship at all! That's what floored me. None of the askers of The RQTEARQ were close friends, but surely they knew me well enough to know that I didn't date and don't date and am not so sure as I plan on ever dating or marrying. Did I look married? Was it the 'ring of confusion' I wear when abroad to keep Orthodox females of foreign extraction from getting interested? (Disclaimer: That statement is not indicative of feeling sweet about myself. I hold no illusions about who I am, but I likewise hold no illusions about the attraction green cards have for some people.) Was I so exhausted from work that I looked like a harried husband? (No offense to my happily married family and friends!)
So, there's my brief report on my crazy day and The RQTEARQ :-). It was a long one and I spent most of my waking hours standing, scanning, and bagging. My back and legs ache like crazy. I don't want to work tomorrow, but it helps that I'm not scheduled again till Wednesday and that I'll be able to do dinner with Leah et alia and go to the festal services Thursday and Friday. Oh, and the upside of seeing Spring Arbor people at work today was seeing them and feeling connected to the University and its community, which was very nice. It's always good to see friends.
And now I'm off to sleep for a few hours before I have to get up again. I'm going to be super tired at church and work, but c'est la vie. Your prayers as always - you're in mine.