Overheard at the adjacent table at dinner tonight complete with the running snarky commentary in my brain:
Twenty Something Girl at Next Table, sounding aghast: So, Susan and I were hanging out with them and, like, ALL they were talking about was BOOKS they had read. It’s like all they DO is read, or something. Who has time for that?! Why would anyone even want to DO that?!
OneShoe, sobbing: Oh, for the days when I could read leisurely! Why, cruel world, WHY DID YOU TAKE AWAY MY TIME TO READ?! Oh, wait, I had a baby of my own volition. Never mind.
Girl at Next Table: I mean, it’s not like I have anything against reading, or anything…
OneShoe: Oh no, certainly don’t associate yourself with People AGAINST Reading. I’ve heard of them. They’re like Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Only dumber and more pointless. And without the pamphlets. Because they don’t, you know, READ. GAH.
Girl at Next Table: It’s just that I prefer to do, you know, like, something mindless, like watch TV and relax, or something. Reading is boring.
OneShoe: Mindless. You said it, I didn’t have to.
Girl at Next Table: And then they got on my case and kept telling me I should read more. *laughs* Can you believe that?
Guy at Next Table with her: Reading is stupid.
OneShoe: Oh what a relief to hear your husband is just as articulate as you are. Please excuse my keening wail as I lament the state of society. *facepalm*
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Let me state for the record that I know some people don’t like to read for leisure, and there’s nothing wrong with that (although I can’t honestly say I understand it). I do, however, reserve the right to snark at those who express active disdain for reading and act like ridiculous twits. Oh, and before anybody gets on my case about being classist and maybe these weren’t very well-educated people who hadn’t learned the value of reading, let me assure you that girlfriend had a rock the size of a grapefruit on her ring finger, and we saw them hop into a Mercedes SUV when they left the restaurant. So like I said, ridiculous twits.
© 2009, OneShoeOff. All rights reserved.
Tags: books, idiocy: others'
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I always feel sorry for folks who don’t read. And I am still speechless when folks say “Oh, I don’t read.” Huh? I am always afraid of saying something obnoxious, so you know, the whole speechless thing overtakes me.
What I really hate is when other moms say things like “how do you find time to read?” What the hell? I MAKE time to read. My kids love to play independently because I LET them. While I am reading. I am adamant that them watching me read is a valuable EXAMPLE for them.
One mom who makes this comment has a BEAUTIFUL yard, seriously. It is all about time, she could read if she wants to. But she does not. That is all.
So yeah – my yard is shit and my house is pretty messy. But I am fairly well-read. Eh.
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