Some Evite Etiquette...

If you want something to play with
Then go and find yourself a toy
Baby, my time is too expensive
And I'm not a little boy

If you are serious
Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious
But if want me to love you
Then, baby, I will, girl, you know I will

Tell it like it is
Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide
But I-I-I-I-I know deep down inside of me
I believe you love me, forget your foolish pride

Life is too short to have sorrow
You may be here today and gone tomorrow
You might as well get what you want
So go on and live, baby, go on and live

Tell it like it is
I'm nothin' to play with, go and find yourself a toy
But I-I-I-I-I
Tell it like it is
My time is too expensive
And I'm not your little boy

FADE
Mm mm, tell it like it is

"Tell It Like It Is" - Aaron Neville

Not to read into the lyrics too much, but it gets a very good point across. So I don't make you sit here and read until your eyes dry up, I'll go ahead and get to the point, which is this - if someone invites you to an event they are throwing... or better yet if I invite you to an event that I am throwing - it's not out of spite, malice, feeling sorry for, or anything along those lines. I invited you because I wanted to see you and hopefully share in a fun evening - something that probably wouldn't happen under normal circumstances if we were alone. Some good public interaction would hopefully lead to a positive working friendship down the road - everything and everyone has to have a starting point.

To tie in the Evite etiqutte, as a general rule, when I respond to Evites, especially when I cannot attend, I will at least take a moment and say "Sorry, I have other plans already" or "Can't wait - see you then" - nothing too fancy, but enough to let the host know that I appreciate the fact that you thought enough of me to invite me to your event. It's the least you can do.

By simply putting down that you're not going to attend and not sending any other information my way gives me a few notions:

1. I don't care to be around you and your friends and family.
2. I don't care to be bothered with you.
3. You repulse me and you're lucky I even responded.
4. You have a lot of nerve to want to see me after not contacting me in the past.

I could go for days speculating about what is going on, but wading in the past is not something I'm too fond of these days. To quote Mr. Joel as I do so often, "The good 'ol days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems..."

My point is this - if we were friends in the past we can be friends again in the future. Someone has to take that first step, and then it's up to the other person to take the next one. Tell it like it is - if you don't want to be friends with me, then let me know and I can move on with my life and you can move on with yours.