Business Fail

There's a saying that seems to ring true from time to time throughout life: "When it rains, it pours." Although I'm 100% confident my "pouring" is very minute when perceived from the big-world perspective, at the time of this story I was in the selfish state-of-mind that I was experiencing an "it's pouring" phase.

Here I am: Stressed out, withdrawn, and irritable.

My 6-year-old daughter gets off her bus approximately on or after 3:33PM at a stop that's about five minutes away from my house. If I leave shortly before 3:30 from my home, I'm golden. I'm at a grocery store, about 8-10 minutes away from the bus stop, held up in a line. This line held me up long enough that by the time I escape the store I am leaving en route to the bus stop at the same time I would leave FROM MY HOUSE! As a mom of 6-year-old daughter, this is an EMERGENCY. My ability to self-identify as a "good mom" now lays in the hands of the time between the grocery store parking lot and that drop off.

My personal vehicle is also a business vehicle, but nonetheless, my objective is: SPEED. So, speed is exactly what I do. I pass a few vehicles (safely, leaving much room between), not putting myself, my little ones, or anyone else on the road at risk. I know how to handle a car. One of my passions is driving. (First car '99 Ford Mustang, and tend to drive every car/truck in a similar fashion.) I come to a red light, so I go through a parking lot, and hop on the side where it's green, and continue my mission of: "MY 6-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER IS ABOUT TO GET OFF THE BUS WITH NO ONE TO PICK HER UP!"

I get to the bus stop on time. For the first time all school year, that bus is 20 minutes late... Ironic, but kind of irrelevant. Day over, I go to sleep.

I wake up at 12:30AM or so, look at my phone and see an email in my business account of a woman reporting the irresponsible driving of the company vehicle. Clearly I've upset her in my speeding, but am still confident I didn't cut anyone off. Sped in front a few, and passed safely so I could proceed my one-man mission of speed -- yes, for that, I'm guilty. It's a long email explaining her distaste in my driving, how she thinks the company doesn't care about her or her kids, or anyone else, notifies me she's reported the vehicle to the Aggravated Driving Hotline (as if calling the cops isn't enough), but tops it off to describe the driver as: "a masculine-looking female."

Wait, sorry -- What!? If it's masculine, why didn't you say "male"? And "it" is ME, so... What the heck are you saying? (To be honest, if I was going as fast as you say I did (and I was, lol), how did you get this description? If you read this, this is an honest question of mine that I would wholeheartedly appreciate an honest answer to.) I understand the email complaint of the driving, so I did (at first) send a respectful email back to fully explain the circumstances.

Then I sit with the insult, sit with the fact she's went out of her way to call the police. It infuriates me. I no longer care this is a business email, and I feel I was entirely way too polite in my first response.

I send a second email.

I justify my driving (like I likely have in this post, lol) and finish it off with a very-intentionally rude, bite-back comment (reptilian-brain, ENOUGH!): "I hope one day my life is as dull as yours that this be my biggest worry of the day." It was a strike, but in all honesty, a lie. I don't want to behave like her, going around reporting cars that drive fast as a pastime.

The physical insult was entirely aggravating, but I also carry feelings of envy (in my "it's pouring!" state) that she, presumably, has nothing bigger to worry about or focus her attention on than a car driving fast.

I know I'm at fault for lashing back from a business email, but I'm human.

Then, lo and behold: A 1-star Google review, quoting my first name and my utterly disrespectful customer service. I respond to the Google review, explaining there was no business interaction, rather a person reaching out to report the driving of a company vehicle by personally insulting the driver's physical appearance. (I love how the business can speak for me first-person! ;) Yay, go business, for standing up for your driver!)

The next day: Another 1-star Google review, complete bogus, that actually cites our services, our company doing a poor job, and not honoring our workmanship warranty, although we always do.

I guess my new stranger-enemy has a friend.

Now my Google-star rating has been negatively impacted for a ridiculous encounter with a stranger. I get it, I'm likely mostly at fault, but my intentions (and actions) weren't out to harm anyone; I just wanted to keep my daughter safe.

Who knows what that other lady's story is of that day, I likely will never know (although would love to!), but am still having a very difficult time understanding: Why are you so blatantly rude and disrespectful that you have the audacity to lash out by insulting someone's appearance? (Remember, she didn't know who she was emailing, it could have been a massive 100-person company, and the best description she had is "masculine-looking female").

If she had only mentioned the driving, I would entirely understand, I would have explained myself, sent the first email, and we likely would have never interacted again. But she had to stoop to a disgusting low I didn't have the sound mind, nor strength to handle at the time.