Sunday, May 31, 2009

Do I Have Your Royal Word on That?



Imagine my surprise early last week when I received a call from someone, while pretty damn famous and well known here in Bahrain, is not someone that generally calls me. How she, or should I say her office, got my mobile number remains a mystery...but considering who she is Im sure thats not much of a problem...anyways...

Now heres the thing...her office called ME...me. Apparently it came to their attention that I could use some help in my life at the moment as a single mom of 5 kids (important that they are Bahraini kids I might add) dealing with a crappy hand at the moment...remember...THEY called ME. Just so Im clear on that.

Now the lady on the phone was very nice...taking some information from me...asking about our situation etc. No problem. The generosity of strangers has saved me more than once recently....so the phone call itself didnt surprise me but the person calling did (or who she represented any how)...defintely did.

I was still getting over my shock at discovering who was calling me when she signed off with a promise to "help me" and would "get back to me shortly".

Now heres my question. I will not name names here so this is a general sort of question...but when it comes to "get back to me shortly" does that mean different things to different people? How short is shortly?

One week later and I havent heard back from this office. Now ordinarily I would take these sort of phone calls and offers of help with a grain of salt because, believe me, Ive received offers of help, jobs, money...whatever with seemingly the utmost of sincerity...only to discover later it didnt mean as much to them as it meant to me. You would have to be someone desperately needing something to understand that feeling of powerlessness at obtaining that "thing" you need...regardless of what it is. Invariably those offers, while received by me with abundant hope and thankfulness, ended up dwindling away like so much dust. Which resulted in the person offering the help to suddenly be unavailable to my calls and avoiding me when they seen me coming...ok...whatever. Im not going to hang it over someones head if they 'CANT help me...but I surely do wish people wouldnt make the offer if they have no intention of following through....

Hope dashed is worse then no hope at all sometimes...believe me...I know.

Anyhow, back to this office...now I understand that this ladies office is definitely in a position to help me. Its not a question of money or ability on their side...a simple phonecall or recommendation on my behalf and...walah!! ...people would be falling all over themselves to jump and do as commanded...it really would have to be that easy. Some people just have that certain sense of "royalty" about them...if you know what I mean.

Sooooo....Im sort of wondering why a week has gone by and no word back. I might sound greedy and impatient to some out there reading this...and I suppose considering who the office represents I cant help but get a few stars in my eyes about the possibilities (Ive heard in the past the sort of "help" offered by just such offices)...but really...THEY CALLED ME...so its not like I wrote a letter begging for help or used some wasta to get a special favour on my behalf. I wouldnt even know how to go about doing that...seriously. I just cant imagine it would take a whole week for something to be done...whatever that something was. Im just saying...not even a phone call back to let me know "its being worked on" or something....sigh!

Anyhow, I expect this sort of thing from "ordinary" people as they say...because sometimes people offer help with the best of intentions and then realize later they really cant follow through. Ok...I understand. I wont hold it against you if I feel it was a genuine offer on your part...just a little ambitious. Those people that offer with NO intention of following through...well hell...why even bother yourself? I wish you would just keep your promises to yourself...my children and I dont need that sort of wishful thinking in our lives at this point...

but those that CALL ME and offer to help me...and are obviously in a position to do so with no obstacles...then dont bother to get back to me...seriously...WHY? What did you get out of it...or hope to accomplish with that phonecall? Just wondering.

Now, I realize its only been a week...not a whole lot of time passed to warrant my irritation I suppose...but hey...when a stroke of a pen, a phone call, or a "royal" request is made...by certain people in society...it cant take more than...say.... 5 mins...half a day...a whole day??? to get it done...can it?

For myself, seriously, Im use to people and how they can be...dont get me started...but I made the mistake of mentioning the phonecall to my kids...wish I hadnt...nuff said on that.

Like I said...does "get back to you shortly" mean different things to different people?

I shall ponder whether I should practice more patience...or just chalk it up to "shit happens" and be done with it...what do ya think people?

15 comments:

The Queen said...

I'm very curious what exactly they could do to help you. Did they give examples? Are they going to get you a job? Are they going to give you a boatload of money? Are they going to buy you a bunch of airline tickets so you can take your kids and your 'sorry ass' (LOL) the HELL out of their country? Are they going to force your ex to hand any and all paychecks over to you? Seriously, what could they do for your situation? What do you even want? Do you even know? LOL

coolred38 said...

Queen...I havent a clue...but they could pretty much help me in any way they choose...they have the capability. We shall see if anything comes of it.

And yes...I do know what I want...dont always get it tho...sigh.

MaryAnn said...

I know that those kind of people with those kind of connections will work on your case. It will take a while for something to come through InshaAllah because that is how it is in this part of the world.

My hubby dragged my BIL to the Sheikh's majlis a long time ago to help him get a job. My BIL is deaf and it is difficult to get any kind of job if you have a disability here (but this was years and years ago maybe different now). Dragged BIL to the front of the line of a room full of men and after all the niceties and such point blank asked the sheikh for some help. Help was promised and BIL had a job within a month. They had to find or create a special job for him.

Anyway, my point is, it might take a while. Just be patient, InshaAllah.

janice said...

Congrats on your new job! I read your twitter post.
"get back to you" could mean anytime. I know ME weekends are not Sat & Sun, so maybe towards the end of this week?

I'm like you, I'm impatient. Kinda like TELL ME NOW impatient.
I could never keep a secret and give presents weeks before they're due...

Chiara said...

Congratulations on the job! Related to this post or is more help coming?

coolred38 said...

Maryann...ty...I guess I will be more patient then. Good things come to those who wait...lol.

Janice...well generally Im a very patient person...but Im just sort of impatient in this instant because they called me...so I was sort of hoping they had something planned already...calling me was just a formality...lol. Oh well.

Chiara...ty...nope this job came about purely from my own endeavors...lol.

Chiara said...

Coolred--good going! Perhaps there still will be "royal blessings"! :)

maryam said...

hope the windaw opened for u finally , little storm....
Maryam

Rasputin said...

I hope sincerely that this 'ray of hope' is not a 'tokenism'. You truly deserve a good break in life!!

coolred38 said...

Chiara...still waiting with bated breath...lol.

Maryam...how come you never comment here girl? Thank you my bestest best friend. Miss you.

Rasputin...well not sure if I deserve it but Im willing to take it if it comes my way...lol. ty

Chiara said...

Meanwhile, first day of work, and first day of new diet/exercise lifestyle--excellent!! Self-serve blessings!

Yasemin said...

I pray that this is for real. If it's not, what a cruel joke, because I dare say you would have been better off never receiving the call.

I hope that this wasn't one of those "insh'Allah" moments. You know the usual inshallah I'll get together with you, inshallah we'll work it out....

Maybe it's like Tanf and medicaid here, there's hurdles in the system to clear out. Odd that you didn't fill out any paperwork, perhaps it's even more disorganized over there? Love you and hope it works out sis.

coolred38 said...

Chiara...yes...and I had a headache from Hell just to keep me company...ugh.

Lisa...I agree...I wish they had never called. Easier on the kids.

coolred38 said...

Just an update folks...6 weeks later no less...lol.

I was interviewed and my story taken down word for word just about...and have been told they will "get back to me" yet again.

Should I be looking at another 6 weeks or what...ha ha.

Chiara said...

Coolred--Great news, and as you know time is a flexible concept, and more flexible in certain cultures. Keep active, while continue to hope, pray, accept their offers and assurances. :)