I won’t tease it out. Here’s what the word is: CANCELED.
Or, cancelled. I looked it up, and you can choose your own spelling. Ever go to the magazine store and notice there’s Conde Nast Traveler and Conde Nast Traveller? It’s like that.
I spell it canceled, single “l” because I canceled the second one, and I love when it happens. Canceled means I stuck to the commitment, I was fully going to rally and represent! Not my fault it didn’t happen, but good, now I can stay in and order Chinese. I can stay dirty and watch another episode of Homeland. Canceled means bailing with none of the fallout from bailing, which is, “You loser, you bailed!”
I want everything to be canceled.
This meeting has been canceled. This google calendar event has been canceled.
Your interview is canceled. That thing you were going to teach is canceled.
The group retreat in rustic cabins is canceled.
The party is canceled! The wedding is canceled!
And oh, if only: The funeral is canceled.
I mean, whatever the thing is, I’m always glad I went, or glad I did it.
But I hate the anticipation.
I hate preparing to speak, preparing my materials, worrying I’ll be nervous, fearing the fear itself, preparing to get in the shower, figuring out what I’m going to wear, thinking about how I should get manicures, are my bangs too long, who’s going to be there and come on, will they really be focusing on ME and talking about what I wore, no, but still, what should I pack, should I have a heavy bag so I can have options, or a light bag and then what if I don’t have the right thing and everyone else is wearing cocktail attire, is there a cooler way to say “I’m sorry for your loss?” And what will I say if I’m asked this question, what will I say if I have no answer, why did I say yes, I should say no to more things, because saying yes causes stress and isn’t life too short for stress? Isn’t life too short to have to set an alarm and get up early AND get on the subway? What does “country casual” mean — all denim? Or is it a dress?
The only things I want not to be canceled are dinner, because that’s in my genius zone, and a flight, because I already packed and got up in time to get to the airport and now I’m excited, so don’t you dare.
Otherwise, I’m all, “Does my forehead feel warm?”
Does it?
You sure? Try with your other hand.
Now you.
Do you love it when things are canceled? Or are you disappointed?
For me, “The meeting is cancelled.” is like a double shot of 15-year-old Scotch. Everything in me goes gooey and I make a happy drunk face.
Well, I don’t want to be the contrarian here, but someone has to do it.
I’m bummed when things are canceled. A lot of work and effort went into planning that thing, so it just seems like a waste to cancel it. And if only a few people were going to show up, well then that’s the only people who should be there. It matters to them.
It’s a missed opportunity for something interesting to happen (not to say that your big screen and a bath isn’t interesting, but it’s kind of predictable.) The unknown when people gather is an adventure.
Except traffic. If traffic can be canceled I’d be all in.
You’re not a contrarian, you’re just a weirdo. YOU LIKE DOING THINGS? I’m all let’s not and say we did, and you’re all let’s do and say we did, which seems like so much energy. Whew.
Ms. Laura…you are my inside my head too! I am completely and whole heartedly with you on this one. I love cancelled. I immediately have something to replace it with too. Chillin’ in front of my big screen watching a show or reading a good book in a hot bath.
I will be with you Thursday, so I hope, in this case that you won’t cancel. My hot bath can wait.
Thank you for making and keeping your Thursday plan with me, Jul’s!
I had to laugh because I was checking my email with the secret hope that my client this evening had cancelled our appointment. I could use a cashmere lounge set kind of day and the only thing making me leave the house is that appointment.
Btw, I really do have a cashmere lounge set. That’s what happens when you go shopping with your mom at the old lady store. I was just about to buy a brown cashmere sweater when the saleswoman said “do you want to try on the matching pants?” Yes, yes I do…
Ox
Cecilia
I discovered yesterday that my unemployment insurance has apparently been canceled–a catastrophe for a slacker like me! Ah well, onward and downward.
You need to say BROWN cashmere lounge set. That seals the deal. You stay cozy in your Craftmatic adjustable bed. Sounds pretty divine to me.
If I had to leave the house for clients, I wouldn’t have a business.
O.K., so I did have a second of a freak out, because before I read who it was from, I read the subject line. I have my appt. with Licia later today and I thought it was from her and I’m totally looking forward to that phone call, so my heart jumped a beat.
But…then I read, “Laura Belgray”, and I thought, “Oh, just her.” So you know, it pays to not have plans with you.
Now, the next time I’m in New York and I’ve roped you into dinner and drinks and I’m on the bus coming from my sister’s house in Bethlehem and I check my phone and see an email from you with that subject line, I’ll be pissed. But that won’t happen, because it’ll be dinner, and you won’t cancel.
Other than psychic readings from Licia Morelli and future dinner plans with Laura Belgray, I too, love when things get canceled.
Update:
Had my reading and I love Licia! Thanks for telling me I need to get a reading from her.
She told me that I’m going to be a famous rock star–so…I need to get to work on learning an instrument. I asked her if she was sure it wasn’t “porn” star, because that might be easier for me to transition into, but she saw what she saw, so…off to guitar lessons it is.
Aren’t you glad Licia isn’t the canceling type? She’s amazing, and if she says you’re going to be a rockstar, that’s what’ll happen. Maybe she was picking up on your rocker hair.
Lane – I would never cancel on you! I can’t wait to hear your first song. My hope is that you entitle it “Licia is the Bomb Diggety” and then you can do some cool beat drops on the side of your guitar. You have to keep us posted and make sure to share all of your YouTube links!
Laura – Aw thank you! And no, I’m not the cancelling type. I think it’s the catholic guilt I experience when I try to cancel.
Haha!! Licia, for reals, I’m actually reworking my text on my website to accommodate for the things that you told me.
Thank you so much!
(I know about that Catholic guilt thing. Haven’t been one since my early 20’s, but it’s embedded.)
For anyone reading this: Licia is the REAL DEAL! Contact her for a reading!!
Didn’t even have to check with both hands. My forehead was hot. The entire month of November was canceled. (Except for dinner.) BTW,looking forward to Thursday, and I don’t care what you wear.
You had hot forehead all through November? I’d save mine for January – that’s when I REALLY want a “have to stay home” fever.
Shucks, I was going to can some fruit compote and now I’ll can-cel. Isn’t that the same
thing? If you can can it, then can it. Si se puede!
You know my favorite dance, Dad. The Can-Can-Cel.
Actually Laura, you DID rope me into plans with you. I have Thursday afternoon blocked off to join you on the webinar with Adda, so at first I thought you were writing me to cancel THAT! But false alarm.. it’s all good. See you Thursday! (Unless you need to cancel of course..)
I came through, Tony! Were you there?
Sometimes I think you’re inside my head and it’s eerie. 🙂 Cancelled (2 Ls for this Canadian) is THE best.
THE BEST. Probably even better in Canada!