What the *@#&?

I'm seriously considering chucking my personally policy on the use of profanity, especially in this blog.

Last week I attended cub scout pack meeting with my 8 year old grandson. Sometimes they are a lot of fun, last week was just frustrating. While boys were running around getting sweaty I took the opportunity to visit with some parents. One man I spoke with is a commercial roofing contractor. Let's call him "Jack". I've know Jack for at least 5 years now and he knows that I work with attorneys but regardless, the conversation is always the same. I ask Jack how business is and he proceeds to tell what rotten, useless people attorneys are. I end up biting my tongue, nodding my head and as quickly as possible find someone else to talk with.

So, I just left Jack and I ran into the father of a brand new cub scout, let's call him "Earl". Earl is a chiropractor and new to our area as well as being new to cub scouts. As we were talking Jack came by and pointed out to us that cookies had been set out on the table and suggested we get some while the boys were still playing. I thanked Jack and stated cookies were not food for me.

I walked away from the cookies thinking I was through with Jack and Earl when Earl caught up with me and started telling me about a new healthy weight loss program he had just heard about at a recent Chamber of Commerce meeting. By that point it was all I could do not to scream that idiots should keep their mouths shut and their opinions or ideas to them selves.

Number one, I know that attorneys are not the favorites of a lot of people. I really know they aren't Jack's favorite people and I don't need to hear it again every time I see him. This is especially true since I make a living working with attorneys from all over the state of California. I may not like some of them but I try to keep the opinions to myself since they do pay me. At the same time I do not defend attorneys to Jack and others like him.

Number two, I know I'm fat, I could stand to lose some weight. I have a wife and a doctor who both remind of that fact regularly. One important thing to consider, both my wife and doctor know me better than Earl ever will. So when they make comments and suggestions about my weight they do so with an understanding of who I am and what my needs are.

Okay, now you can see why I considered straying from my own, largely unspoken, no profanity rule. Some days people, adults not children, say things without thinking first about what they are saying and the effects their words can have.

I guess the positive from all of this is the fact that I didn't yell or punch Jack or Earl I just ended my conversations with these men and walked away. There are some people who would consider that progress.