Thursday, April 13, 2006

hey jealousy

I don't get it. I really don't. Since I don't, I'm appealing to the greater readership of the lumberyard to help my lack of understanding. You people are obviously intelligent, even if you come here more for the pictures than the articles. In fact, that might be a point or two in your intellectual favor.

The Florida lottery is up to something like $50 million. I don't know if anyone won last night, but if they didn't, it's even higher now. I was talking about it with a co-worker who plays, hoping for the day when he can "take this job and shove it." He asked me what I'd do if he won. I didn't quite know what he meant. I mean, I didn't win anything. I wouldn't do anything different than before. I told him I'd congratulate him, wish him well, and maybe hope he keeps in touch, since he wouldn't be working with me anymore.

He said, "No, you wouldn't. You'd be pissed off."

"Why?"

"Because I won and you didn't."

"So? I suppose I'd have a better chance to win if I actually played, but what does it matter?"

His contention was, if someone else in our little work environment won, and he didn't, he'd be so jealous he wouldn't be able to stand it. It'd be enough to make him go postal. I thanked him for the insight, making a mental note to investigate the local sources of kevlar, so I can buy and wear it in the event one of our co-workers ever hit it big. But I truly don't understand that jealousy. Why would it piss him off if someone he knew hit the lottery, but he didn't? If he hit the lottery, good for him, but it doesn't affect my life all that much. I need a new co-worker, but besides that, my situation is no worse than the day before. I'm still going to work and still collecting a paycheck. I'm still going to little league games, playing bad golf, and questioning the Jaguars front office off-season moves. Life goes on. I have no reason to be upset. If anything, I have every reason to be happy...for him. It certainly wouldn't trigger a killin' spree in the office. So somebody, please help me understand this. Why would watching one of your aquaintences get lucky push one to (or over) the brink of violence?

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