So last night was Irish Fest at my brother's work place and Mollie and I were volunteered to work there. As was my nephew. Mollie worked putting together corner beef slider meals, nephew worked the bar and I was cashier. There was also one other person working, Mary, who made the corned beef and worked next to Mollie.
My knee is out with a possible worsened meniscal tear and so I was promised a sit down job. However, cashiering between 2 stations that were opposite each other meant I was on my feet moving. A lot.
Mollie and I didn't get a free meal. We didn't get a cut off profits. My nephew gave Mollie some money from the tip jar on the bar. At the end of the evening we hadn't eaten dinner, my knee was worse and my brother, his wife, Mary, brother's boss (possibly also nephew) went for a free celebration dinner at the steakhouse there (their meals are written off on the mall's dime) while Mollie and I went through the Burger King drive through to get something to eat.
I've always liked working the events but I didn't enjoy last night and I especially didn't enjoy the feeling of being taken advantage of. I'm thinking that was the last time I'll agreed to be volunteered. But I don't know if I'm over reacting.
I should mention that when I wrote The Fall, my brother objected to some pre-sale ads I posted that insulted the president and so he didn't/hasn't bought the book. I understand. All actions have consequences.
So am I wrong to decide to be done with volunteering? Or am I over-reacting?
That sounds really sucky... and after you were looking forward to it, too. Volunteers should be treated well.
ReplyDeleteYou're not wrong.
ReplyDeleteVolunteering is good for the soul (and community) but I think it was rather rude that you and Mollie weren't considered for the after event meal. Even if they had taken you and you had to pay for the dinner, that would have been something but to be excluded altogether is the height of rudeness. More so because you had been volunteered, rather than asked if you wanted to help.
I've been there and it's not a nice feeling. Certainly makes me think twice about helping people, especially as it tends to happen time and again. Then again I'm a sucker who just can't say no to people and they tend to take advantage of that. I don't do it for financial/gift gain but a thank you would be nice every now and then.
As a side note, it's a shame about your brother and the book. Even if he never reads it, to buy it and help out his sister would be a nice thing.
I myself have started to re-read it (I only managed the first couple of chapters last time) and I'm enjoying it. I feel like I'm part of the conversation, even if I don't get to say anything. Much like real life here, really lol
I don't believe you are over reacting, at all.
ReplyDeleteWe are generally indoctrinated into believing we should forgive slights, but there are limits. Trust your gut here--and the fact that you and Mollie were excluded from the celebration, despite the fact that you worked as hard as the rest of them.
Have to agree with everyone else. And I think a person should pick what they volunteer for, not have it pushed on them.But it's not the first time you've been treated like an outlier and I doubt it will be the last.
ReplyDeleteFind your passion and volunteer for it and tell your brother you're no longer available.