Certainties in Life

There aren’t that many, really. Death and taxes, according to ... who, Benjamin Franklin? Or could it possibly have been Mark Twain?

I am in the process of making my own list of “Certainties in Life”:

1. Life is not fair. The sooner you accept this certainty, the sooner you will understand that, while life is not fair, it truly can be beautiful. In spite of or maybe even because of all the disparity.
2. Almost everyone you know will disappoint you in some way. It’s human nature not to be perfect; we are bound to fail, at one point or another, and in doing so, we often fail the people we care about most. I believe it’s important to realize this about others; it takes a heck of a lot of pressure off them if you know, going in, that somewhere along the line, they are very likely going to let you down. (Not to say you shouldn’t expect and even demand the best from the people you get close to ... just be advised that, despite their best efforts, they might not live up to everything you had hoped for. Which usually is actually your problem, not theirs.)
3. If you really really want me to do anything for you, do not start and end the conversation by calling me “Diane.” My name is Diana. I will answer to “Di” and any of the various nicknames I have had over the years — most of which have come from my mom ... and most of which I would never reveal, except perhaps under the influence of truth serum. I am even so polite that I will answer to “Diane,” usually without correcting you; however, I will automatically file you under the category of People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Learn (and Use!) My First Name, and I will decide, at that moment, that nothing you ever ask of me will warrant even the possibility of consideration.

: )

Damn, I’m tired, and it’s not all that late, but ... it’s been a very long week. And I am very much in need of a vacation. (I could use a month; I’m getting a week. Life just isn’t fair.)