The Gimme Game

01/31/01

Let me tell you about what I call "The Gimme Game." I'm sure you know someone like this, or perhaps YOU are like this.

You know how they say, "It's the little things that count." Well, let me tell you, it's TRUE! You wouldn't think it would be too much to ask your wife for a cup of coffee, or to bring you a cigarette. It wouldn't be, IF YOU DIDN'T DO IT TWENTY TIMES A DAY!! Good God!! You think my whole purpose in life is to wait on YOU hand and foot? Let me assure you right now that it IS NOT!! I may seem a little upset, but really I'm not that pissed. Of course, this resentment has been building somewhat. I've asked over and over again for you to stop asking me to do little shit that you can just as easily do for yourself. Do you listen? NO. Do you ever listen to anything I say? I think not.

Now, I realize this is not really all your fault. If you are raised in an environment where you see Daddy playing the Gimme Game all day long, then you are bound to finally realize that women were put on Earth to be your personal servants. Plus, all you mothers out there who think you are doing your kids a favor by fixing their snacks and getting them a drink from the fridge as they sit on their ass playing video games or watching TV, please think about the consequences of your actions. This is precisely where little boys get the idea that women are here to serve them.

Of course, the same holds true for fathers who spoil their daughters with gifts and candy to try to gain their favor. You do not gain a person's love by buying them gifts. She may very well hate you someday anyway, for a whole nother reason. Maybe you worked WAY too much so you could buy these nice gifts, and now she feels like you tried to buy her love instead of just spending time with her like a good father would. Either way, she will grow up thinking that men have to buy her diamonds and gifts to prove themselves to her, and she will end up miserable because of it.

My husband had laid down for his nap today, and as usual he asked me to bring him his cigarettes. After years and years of taking naps, it would seem to me that a person would remember to take his cigarettes with him. I told him, NO, I was through playing the Gimme Game with him. He said, "I'll tell you a secret that you don't know if you bring them to me." I guessed at the secret for a while, because I knew he didn't really have anything good, but then curiosity got the best of me, and I went and got the cigarettes. Here is the secret. I would like to share it with you. He said, "You do everything you're told, and you don't even realize it."

Allrighty then! Looks to me like this is the end of the Gimme Game for him. I've always hated the game anyway, so what a perfect opportunity to quit. Oh, sure, he will have a difficult time adjusting. He will use scare tactics like, "I'm going to quit fixing your car for you, because you can't even fix me a cup of coffee." I'm guessing that ending the Gimme Game may lead to the ultimate demise of our relationship. Who knows? But I don't suppose we were going to stay together forever in any case.

I would like to say that I don't play the Gimme Game. If I want a cup of coffee, a cigarette, if I need something from the store, I do it myself. It has never occurred to me to ask someone to do these things for me, because I am perfectly capable of doing them myself. I would actually feel guilty even ASKING because I know that it's wrong.

Don't you worry about my husband ever reading this and getting mad because I put it on the internet, because his next favorite game after the Gimme Game is the "I Don't Care About Your Thoughts or Opinions Game" As you can see, it is causing a tiny bit of resentment. I still have it together though. Don't worry about a thing. I'm one of the strongest, most resilient people I know. :) The little things never get me down for long.

D, if you ever read this...or any of my website besides that funny poll, I just want you to know that I'm proud. And happy that you would take an interest in me, even if it didn't pertain to you. But because I know you won't read it, let me just say, BITE ME.

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