Ask about my weekend. I dare you.
Hey, thanks for asking how my weekend was. I appreciate you thinking of me on a Monday morning when we’re all desperately crowding around the coffee like bison around a watering hole in a dusty, dry summer. I’m going to choose to believe that your question was sincere and not just a way to distract me so you could take the second-to-last cup of coffee and avoid having to make another pot. So, thanks again. It was great.
Oh, you want to hear about something cool that I did. Oh great. I did tons of cool stuff that I can tell you about and I’d love to do that right now. I’d love for you to know every single thing that I did this weekend just so you can know how cool and relaxing and fulfilling my life is and how it completely validates everything I do at this office for 50 hours a week.
Oh, what did I do? Great. I’m so glad you asked for details. I’d love to tell you all the things that I did, so I’ll go ahead and do that now I guess.
On Friday I went home at 8:30 after going to happy hour where I tried a drink that was hot pink and tasted like a scream. I got home and tried to watch an episode of Arrested Development but IT WOULDN’T LOAD. So like a baller I wrote in my journal by candlelight for a little bit before going to bed at 9:20.
But get this, on Saturday I woke up before dawn and did a whole morning of vision-casting, trying to figure out what to do with my life. I created mad google docs and made sure to update my mint.com account with my recent cash purchase of coffee ($2.00) and answer any personal emails from the week. I pounded down some peanut butter oatmeal and a calcium chew and futzed around before taking a leisurely walk around Stowe Lake where I saw a couple making out.
But wait, it gets better. On Saturday night, I did things with my friends – like eat food and see a show. And on Sunday, I slept in until 8 am and took a freaking walk in the park and talked to my sister who I love and then I went to West Oakland where I bought 8 candles and did improv and then came back and made a mother flipping lentil dish before going to eat dinner with a friend.
So are you happy now? Are you happy now that you know every detail of my weekend? Do you feel like you know me better? Do you think what I did was cool? Because it wasn’t. Nothing of what I did was cool, and it never will be. BECAUSE MY WEEKEND WAS JUST LIKE YOURS. WE DID THE EXACT SAME STUFF AND WE HUNG OUT WITH FRIENDS AND ATE FOOD AND OUR LIVES ARE NOT INTERESTING.
So thanks for asking how my weekend was. How was yours?
P.S. What’s the deal with mayonnaise. Why does everyone hate it?
Snotting black 
But that’s the whole point of asking – hearing that you had a boring weekend validates the other person’s just as unexciting weekend.
And you did improv, that’s exciting. Comedy improv, I assume? I always kind of wanted to try that – at least for longer than a few minutes.
I like mayo and you too. What’s the big deal?
Best Foods ftw.
So, question: setting aside your (very correct) point that inane convo about mundane modern living is infuriating; is it possible that we’re missing a bigger point? Such as, perhaps it isn’t the hope of living vicariously through others that we ask these questions; but more to just enjoy the pleasure other people get from their own lives. We’re all stuck in some fairly safe, weekend ruts (it’s spring, all weekends will include mowing until November), but we can be content in our rutness; and we can spread that contentment to others.
Perhaps it’s a type of respect to ask about the weekend even knowing the response ahead of time. Just taking the time to acknowledge existence, to give our fellow humans just a moment of consideration, is a plus in a society that cheers when people die on TV.
Your post makes me think that maybe I could ask more, just to extend some courtesy and add some feel good to
someone’s day.
And I’m also thinking it would be cool to make up the most outlandish weekend stories to freak them the f&$@ out 😉
I thought you might say something about how people at work ask you about your weekend but completely forget all details within minutes. For me at least, when my coworkers don’t listen, I cut them off from the cool details of my life.
I also enjoy mayo, same brand as the above (best foods to you I guess)
I would like to know about PB oatmeal. When is it typically added and how much (though there is no such thing as too much) I will also assume that you use crunchy, for texture.
i thought your weekend was delightful. Maybe a little worship on Sunday sprinkled in? … Just sayin’
I still like mayo. Bring out the Hellmann’s and bring out the best!