I received three phone calls yesterday from totally unexpected sources. The first one was the most significant as it almost resulted in the caller escalating the matter to crisis levels.
The first one was from my cousin who after reading my blog post My Life Saver got very worried and called me to find out what was wrong with me. Knowing that I am quite capable of making not only my own tea but also cook very edible meals, he thought that I was incapacitated in some way to order for tea from a restaurant. When he called, I had just got up from my siesta and the mobile phone was in the drawing room. I did not respond to the first call on my mobile phone as I could not hear the ringing. He then tried a WhatsApp call which also went unanswered. He finally called on my landline and I answered just as he was about to disconnect to ring up my son to find out if there was any emergency. When the calls were unanswered he concluded that something serious must have happened to me and since even the land line was not being answered by either my son or daughter in love, he got really worried.
A little explanation is called for here. I should have been clearer about why I wanted to get tea from a restaurant in my post. For the past four days, I have been under some discomfort due to a pulled back muscle which makes standing and walking very painful. I am under treatment for it and feeling much better as I write this but, the day before yesterday was really very bad. The idea of standing and brewing my tea was very uninspiring and also distressing and that is why I had sought to buy tea from outside.
I explained this to my cousin who was assuaged and calmed down and we spoke about some other recent family matters and that was that.
The other two calls were from friends who too read my blog posts and who too wondered why I did not simply make myself a mug of tea as I would normally have. They also had to be given the same story and all was well that ended well.
I have learnt a lesson. I should not cause such worries to my family and friends and write in such a way that they get a full picture of why I do certain things.
If you have to order tea from outside..and write about it..then mention the fact that you wanted a “change” from your own brew…
Koi Hai! Oru single Chaya anuppu!
Yes Maam. Shall do so the next time around. Unfortunately, there was no Koi Hai that day to answer me but, not to worry, the ubiquitous mobile phone will serve the purpose.
I’m glad you were able to catch one of your cousin’s calls before it escalated.
With all of the telemarketing, scam, and political calls we get, my phone is usually not answered unless it’s from someone on my contact list, like the phone call from my brother yesterday. If others really want or need to talk to me, they can leave a message and I can decide if I want to talk with them.
While I usually have my phone in a pocket for the exercise app to register my steps, if I turn it to vibrate only, I often won’t feel the vibration if I’m walking or otherwise physically active. When I see I had a missed call, it’s virtually always one of those I wouldn’t answer anyway.
Mike recently posted..Thai Garden Elephant
“my phone is usually not answered unless it’s from someone not on my contact list” should have been “my phone is usually not answered unless it’s from someone on my contact list”!
Mike recently posted..Thai Garden Elephant
Corrected.
The problem in this case was that both the landline and mobile phones were in the drawing room while I was just coming out of my siesta in the bedroom. It took me a while to shift from the bedroom to the drawing room due to my back problem. I too follow your rule and answer only those calls the numbers of which are registered with me.
Yes, you need to be more specific. I just related your post about tea to my own incapacity at times and I am just glad of someone dropping off something as standing for me can be exhausting. I could hear your joy in the post about finding such a lovely tea and not having to make it.
XO
WWW
The saga continues. Please await my next post.
I may sound callous about this but my first thought was why didn’t you ask me for tea? I could have sent it in less than 5 minutes as well. The second thought was it’s good you’re considering stepping out and would hopefully walk a few more steps and come see me. 🤷♀️
Very interesting reaction. This calls for another blog post.
I’ve just read your Life Saver post. You are so lucky having such excellent restaurant neighbours, but I can see how your family would be concerned. Glad it all turned out well.
I actually have two of them. Please read my next post coming up soon.
I’m glad you have such great service and good tea available almost literally on your doorstep!
It looks a very convivial place to visit, too 🙂
Oh yes, it is a very comfortable and convivial place to visit indeed.
Not entirely your fault, Ramana. People do jump to grim conclusions if they don’t get a quick response (or any response) from someone they know. It doesn’t occur to them that there might be a quite innocent explanation for the silence.
No, it was not my fault and I do believe that under normal circumstances, my cousin would not have panicked. With Covid and my high risk status his imagination simply ran riot.
I agree with Nick – people do have a tendency to jump to conclusions – and not only from not answering the phone!
Or in my case, start interfering as soon as they think “I’m on the wrong track” – I have a long time friend, slightly older, who has gotten more interfering as time has gone on. In the last year, she has got into a “strange habit” of just dropping in – whereas most people are either invited or they ask beforehand. A couple of times, it’s been rather inconvenient but she says “I’ll sit and wait…” Or if I’m not actually here (not sure why I should be all the time) she emails me with something along the lines, “I came by twice today and you weren’t home…”
When she is here, I’m always “doing/was doing something stupid” and I need to be bought to heel … some of her ideas are just “plain stupid” – I mostly nod now, because if I question she rants on… often she brings something she got at a bakery – it’s usually not nice tasting but that then means she needs hot drink – that too is always “not right” except when I had the Belgian hot chocolate powder. But then she questioned the cost!
BTW I actually can afford nice things…if I chose to have them 🙂
Catherine de Seton recently posted..Taking it carefully
While it is indeed true that people jump to conclusions too soon, in this case Covid and my high risk status played on his mind. He is very concerned about my well being like elder relatives are about younger ones who are considered to be careless!