The other night over dinner, Rachelle and I were having a serious conversation about a work related matter. Now, I’m a little bit older than Rachelle, and probably an awful lot smarter, accomplished, worldly and self-reliant than she’ll ever be, but I really don’t like to hang this over her head. I’m a good guy, and for the most part I think it’s best that she finds her own way, so it’s very rare that I offer advice.
However, this was an important matter, and it was clear that she could use my guidance, and so, for perhaps ten minutes, I spoke, explaining the psychological and economic relationships that governed her work environment, and how she should respond to these dynamics. I was extraordinarily articulate and almost preternaturally perceptive in my comments, and it was clear to me that Rachelle was grateful, because she just sat there watching me, her chin resting on her hands. When I was finished, she looked at me, and in the sweet voice that you might use when speaking to a child, said, “you have a corn nibblet on your face.”
And so now, whenever I say something that I think is smart, or even semi-serious, Rachelle now responds by saying something like “you have meat on your glasses,” or “ there’s some rice in your eyebrows.”
Not. Nice.
Even worse is that this sort of disrespectful and childish behaviour is spreading through our circle of friends, as Rachelle, class act that she is, has told everybody in the world about it. So now, whenever I’m coaching one of our Jesus Cobra games, my players will now point to my face, and then make a brushing motion, as if to suggest I have some food there. Sometimes, one of them will pipe up and say, “Good point, nibblet!” It’s disrespectful and rude, and I’m officially telling the world that I will no longer answer to Nibblet, so back off!!