How I met my bestie
LISA HOBBS - News Editor
There are some truths in this line of work. One of them is that absolutely everything I write has the possibility of upsetting someone. It doesn’t matter how basic, dull or minor the subject matter. It sometimes baffles me what some people will get unhinged about.
While working as editor and general manager of Grundy County Herald, I wrote a column. Shortly thereafter, I received an email from a woman who expressed her displeasure at it and at me.
Let’s set the stage: The column was about my disapproval of whomever burnt down a historic building in Grundy County. I can’t remember exactly what the column stated, but I wasn’t nice to that person. Not in the least. If I remember right, it was my intention to make the arsonist feel worse than dirt, lower than a snake’s belly, and other phrases such as that. I wanted them to know that I thought their actions were morally reprehensible.
That column garnered many supporting comments from like-minded readers. The only exception was that one woman. I believe, if I’m not mistaken, that it was one sentence in the whole column that got her goat. It was something about him/her being an introvert, which means they are alone and friendless.
Like I said, I unleashed all the negative wordy bits on that individual. Looking back, maybe I was a bit overly abrasive.
The woman, if I remember correctly, was upset because she’s an introvert. Best I can recall, I explained in my reply email that I felt the desire to apologize for upsetting her. However, she took one sentence out of an entire column dedicated to someone specific – an arsonist – and chose to be offended by it. Regardless, I did apologize.
Months later, although I cannot remember how many, I signed up for a grant writing course that lasted, I think, three to four days. I’ve spent 21 years of my life writing, so why not? I walked into the room. I knew a few of the 40-ish people in attendance and decided to sit with complete strangers. How else do you get to know people?
As usual, I was humorous and entertaining. What I always say is, “If you have a sense of humor, come stand next to me. If you’re sensitive, please don’t.’ The ladies around me loved my humor. During the course, Kimberly asked me about the location of the restroom. I’m bad at directions, sometimes confusing my left with my right, so I said that I’d show her. As we walked, she stated something about first impressions and how your feelings can change when you get to know someone. She said she needed to tell me something. She didn’t like me because of something I wrote, and she even sent me an email.
I exclaimed, “That was you?!?!?!?!”
She was my disgruntled introvert.
She said it was and went on to say that she felt we could be best friends. She liked me, after getting to know me. I readily agreed.
Since that time, Kimberly and I have remained in touch. We try to grab lunch once a week and have discovered that we have many things in common. Despite our busy schedules, we try to text regularly. We’ve planned our first besties trip for October. Three days dedicated to just us, so can’t wait.
Another truth in this line of work is that some people will always hate me based on that one thing that I wrote and that’s okay. I will be forever grateful that Kimberly isn’t one of them.