I Do Not Know That Woman!
Hello?
Two things I definitely do not like when I answer the phone. One is when there is a momentary delay, and then someone says to me, "Hello?" It's a telemarketer. My number has been randomly dialed by a computer, and now I am simply the next potential sucker on the line. So I will hang up when I recognize the pause. And I have missed some genuine calls with this practice.
Who is this?
Now, I hate that. Why should I have to tell you who I am, because you called me? So I responded,...
You called me. Who are you?
This is John.
This is Dave.
I was going through the numbers on my wife's phone, and I found yours. Why does my wife have your number stored on her phone?
That's a good question. I have a wife; I don't need yours.
My wife has been listening. She knows that I have a hard time being nice on Mondays, and she senses I am becoming irritated. She says, "Give me the phone." She continues the conversation, and this time I listen. The guy is in Florida. He is very concerned about the social connections of his wife. It seems he is rather distraught. Debbie's soothing voice has a calming effect, and the call soon ends. Then she looks at me, rather accusatory, and says, "Poor guy. His wife is having an affair."
Perhaps. Or perhaps he is insecure and distrusting. Such people tend to go through their wife's phone, and check out unfamiliar numbers.
Would you do that?
Oh well. I had no idea I had groupies in Miami.
01.29.07 (6:21 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (3:56 pm)
Maybe there's a club down there. Dave's Dollies.
posted by:
katiespinkshoes (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (5:17 pm)
I can understand looking at your wife's phone to se what numbers she has called. It's another thing entirely to actually call them and accuse the person of cheating with her! That seems out of line.
posted by:
FinalyFree (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (5:41 pm)
By now the guy's probably dialed every possible combination with the numbers in your cell #! I'm sure the woman got your number mixed up with her intended. Ironic, now they're both trying to figure out the guy's number, lol.
posted by:
almsthvn (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (5:41 pm)
Would I do that? Nah. It means nothing. Shoot, look at my phone. 95% of the names on there are male. Should anyone look at those and get upset, I'll bop 'em on the head. Nearly all of them are co-workers, except for the one labeled "Jesus". He's from Mexico, so it's pronounced differently, but when you have the opportunity to have Jesus's phone number on your cell phone, you go for it! *giggle
posted by:
laydeepulse (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (6:42 pm)
are you not concerned that she has your number?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (6:57 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
I spent a week vacationing in Miami, about two years ago. I'm sure I did not meet this man's wife. Heck, I'm scared of women, especially one with a husband who could and would do me harm.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (7:12 pm)
Reply to: katiespinkshoes
I've never felt the need to check up on my wife. She regularly associates with men with her work, but it never occurs to me that she would be unfaithful. And I'm not the most self-assured guy around.
However, I try to sympathize with this guy. What if I had strong suspicion, or what if she has been proven to be unfaithful? Then, would I call the numbers left on her phone? I don't think so. But I could leave an unfaithful mate and start over- which is a better course of action than to try to desperately hang on to someone who has proven not to love you.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (7:22 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
Me too. What are those weird bumps they have on the front of their chests?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (7:23 pm)
Reply to: FinalyFree
It is strange. My wife talks business with people from many places, including Florida. Maybe this guy's wife is one of those? Or, perhaps it is an inadvertant misdial- which is most likely.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (7:25 pm)
Reply to: almsthvn
Please tell Jesus I said hi, and sorry about not giving him a call today. I've just been too busy. And, I know, he doesn't like that excuse.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.29.07 (7:26 pm)
Reply to: laydeepulse
Nah. She probably has lots of numbers, some of men with an actual relationship with her. They need to worry.
posted by:
69whisper (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (1:27 am)
most people are unaware of the etiquettes of calling others, good directories do describe all the procedures in initial pages which we never bother to see.
Some people do have this habit of viewing other's phonebooks (including wife's) and some are only curious about wife. Bad habit, will he like it if his wife looks at his phonebook with that kind of intention? No. And whats the point in calling that person then ? why not ask his own wife ??
posted by:
FinalyFree (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (7:03 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
Yep I think you're right!
posted by:
searcheng (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (9:48 am)
is that why you go thru you're kids emails and webstights cause you're insecure?
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (11:56 am)
If his wife's having an affair, he's justified. If not, he isn't. Don't couples communicate anymore?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (3:05 pm)
Reply to: 69whisper
It seems obvious this man has a highly troubled relationship. Maybe he is a good guy, desperate to save his marriage, and doing what he thinks is right. We do crazy things in the name of love. True?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (3:11 pm)
Reply to: searcheng
Fair question.
I do not make a religious habit of checking my kids websites and e-mails. But the opportunity is there. Why? Because they are not adults. They are my responsibility, and sometimes mattes of life are outright dangerous and they need my help to avoid pain. And, being teenagers, often they neither understand or appreciate this aspect of growing up. And, when they become adults, then it will not be appropriate for me to so invade their privacy. With adulthood comes greater freedom, and of course greater accountability.
This job I have as a parent of three teenagers is very difficult. It is complicated because I did not have thorough preparation from the way I was raised. So I give it an ernest effort.
Any advice?
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (3:13 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
Good and healthy marriages are a rarity. I'd venture to say that about 10% of marriages, in America today, are what I would call healthy.
posted by:
searcheng (
reply)
post date:
01.30.07 (3:39 pm)
how does a person get thorough preparatin for being a parent?
posted by:
69whisper (
reply)
post date:
01.31.07 (12:37 am)
very true. and you never know what is the background behinde a simple irritating call. So forgive and forget.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
01.31.07 (12:08 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
10%? Yikes! I'd like to think it's not that bleak. If so, why even try to sell the institution to parishioners? Or is one success worth nine failures? I suppose you'd say your goal is to try to repair what's wrong in those 90% by placing a stronger emphasis on God among other things in those relationships though.
posted by:
TheRockSays (
reply)
post date:
02.07.07 (8:23 pm)
That's funny, Dave. The last time someone's opening line to me was "Who's this?" which I habitually followed up with "I think that's my line", the voice at the other end started arguing with me. It seems that my friend, whom I had called, was the girlfriend of a control freak, who felt he had the right to go through her cell phone, and check up on who'd been calling her. Unfortunately, she did very little to prevent this stupid sack of fertilizer from vomiting all over our friendship like that, and in fact did much to expedite the end of our friendship.
Perhaps when our gender of the species becomes insecure, it instinctively investigates threats to its manhood using the same obtuse approach to phone conversations.
