Gossipy Geese

I returned to my 'old stomping' grounds this last weekend and had a great time.  I saw friends and visited with people I hadn't seen in years.  I exchanged news and information about children, jobs, and vacations.  Bygone memories of times long past but surprisingly still fresh were recounted and enjoyed again. 

Yes, indeed, the evening was almost too perfect, and as all too perfect evenings are there was that inevitable little mar that just gave one that bit of reality reminder that not only can one not 'go back' but that in some instances one does not want to.

I had taken along a friend for company, and it was out of her mouth that this life truth was illustrated.  We hadn't been in the hall which was full of my hometown crowd  more than five minutes when my friend turned to me and said, "There are two women sitting over at that table to the left and they are talking about us."  I had actually been aware of these two 'ladies' with heads down and eyes glancing at us as we walked in but I had chosen to ignore it and looked away, but the spoken recognition of the fact by my friend, a complete stranger to the people and hall, impressed upon me just how blatant, open, and lengthy this discussion of myself and my  friend must have been.  It was almost as if these two people thought they were in a little one way bubble visually. Perhaps  they thought they could see us but we couldn't see them so they could stare and talk without shame or fear of retribution.

So what does a lady such as myself do  in an instance such as this?

She does this:

As she knows the name of one of those of no couth or candor, she writes the following on her Social Network Status the next morning:

You know what is really interesting is when one walks into a hall full of people and you get a sense that 'someone' is talking about you. You look over the crowd and can immediately spy out who it is...almost like having whispers behind covered hands becoming coloured. LOL!

THEN she invites the Lady of the Tongue (who she has previous has had same lady Social Networkly blocked) to suddenly become her friend on said Social Network, hoping that the Lady of the Tongue would accept and see the first status ever of the One That Has Been Gossiped About being the above.

AND  ...she did
   AND.... she  did read
                  ...she must have.


The Lady of the Tongue will be Re--blocked after the mandatory 48 hours has passed.

This  is  a far far better method I think than walking over to the table and saying, "Hello.  Is there anything you would like clarified?"  Less risk of confrontation.
 The next time I see them I will just smile and wave.

I am not pretending that I never gossip. But what I am saying is that because I don't pretend not to, I know that one has to be discreet about it. I

know   that people can actually see me talking about them so I take precautions..I carry either a paper bag to cover my head or I simply write and exchange notes with my co-gossiper--chewing and swallowing the evidence afterwards. 

What a Deal!--for Some.

I find it strange that a small town in Saskatchewan would publish a coupon book that gives % discounts on purchases in various places of businesses in that town, but ONLY give it to the people who live in the town and not to the outlying commercial catch basin. 

Some of these same businesses do, however, like to provide advertisement flyers in my 'rural' mailbox encouraging me to purchase from them. I also received a notification that I could go to an Internet site and vote for a new addition to the local town swimming pool.

I seems to me that if I am good enough to be persuaded to vote and to buy in my local small town , then I should also qualify to receive the % discount coupon book that the residents of the town qualify for.

  I understand that there is a discount coupon for an upcoming concert to raise money for the local theatre . I wonder how well the theatre will fare if only the people who are chosen to receive the discount attend? 

As I am a member of the Co-Op and the Co-Op was one of the coupon suppliers, it bugs me not a little that anyone in town could benefit from the coupon and not necessarily be a member.

Do these merchants forget exactly where their bread and butter comes from?  Do they actually think that their monthly profit (if they do indeed have one) comes solely from the pockets of the townspeople in this little town in rural Canada?  Do they forget  about the countless numbers of vehicles that  are driven into town everyday from the countryside in order for their  operators to purchase groceries, fuel, hardware necessities, pharmaceuticals, and dry goods?  Do these merchants think for one minute that without these residents from the outlying regions being a part of the  local volunteer backbone, that the town would be able to operate the recreational facilities , service clubs, religious organizations, and cultural events with just the people who live within Town limits?

Yes, Town residents do pay taxes for the upkeep of Town infrastructure, but the merchants of this little town should remember that taxes are also paid by landowners and residents who live in the rural area and that these monies also contribute to the upkeep of roads, schools, medical facilities, as well as  police and emergency services which are used and enjoyed by all in the district.

Could not having a genuine and simple GOOD SALE on goods and services to all who chose to venture to Town to purchase  the oft touted "Locally" been a better idea?

Nothing like a Good Sale to warm a customer's heart and create a lasting memory and a tendency to buy again.

Nothing like a Snub to promote a feeling of not being welcome, not belonging, and not counting that will make a customer turn the opposite direction when they get to the highway and go to the next town where their purchase choices are greater and their business is appreciated.  Often, they can even purchase Online and not ever leave their yard except to pick up the mail.

You can't sell anything to anyone if your store is empty of customers--with or without coupons. The way this small town orchestrated their attempt at marketing is a sure way of having lots of items on the shelves, few people in the aisles, and little cash in the til.

Simply :  WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??