AIDS, Coworkers and the Baby Jesus

Earlier this week, I dialed the number for the AIDS Resource Council here in Rome, my usual Christmas-time ritual. For the past couple of years now, beginning at the paper, Chris and I have participated in basically "adopting" a child or two from them for Christmas. The volunteers there send a sheet with the child's first name, age, sex and clothing sizes, along with the top three items this child wants for Christmas. Last year, I helped get others at the paper involved (Sonya did it the year before), and it was addictive. So I called the council and had them send the information for seven kids over, thinking I would ask coworkers at my current employment to pitch in.

The volunteer explained to me that they have many teenagers this year and that many people just want to buy for the little kids. So I told her to send the teens' info right over. I then sent out an e-mail to the entire PR department, which includes 9 or 10 people, explaining how the procedure works and asking if anyone would like to participate. My thought: "Oh, I work here now where people are nice and supposedly Christians, so they should eat this up!" WRONG!

I had a few people say they would like to do this. One got a sheet and will be shopping soon. Another got a sheet and was very reluctant about the whole thing, informing me that she usually spends about $1600 on Christmas for family and neighbors who she really doesn't like buying for but she's done it forever so she has to continue (in other words, she's a push-over). I'm thinking: " Wow, $1600 on Christmas! It's time to say 'no' to those who don't need it so you can maybe help some that do." But I can't tell people how to spend their money...

Then, another coworker decides that we should do this instead of buying gifts for each other (this was the first I had heard about buying gifts for each other, by the way). I think this sounds like a good idea until he suggests that we have a meeting about it and I present. You know, unnecessary meetings are the highlight of my life and all, and being the presenter just makes it better. So to get him back at said meeting I open with, "Since Roger (using an alias here) didn't read the e-mail I sent out about this program, I'll repeat what I wrote in it to explain how this goes." I know I have a big mouth, but that's what you get for calling a meeting.

By the end of the unnecessary meeting, "we" have decided to take one child and seven of us contribute $25 to buy this kid a $100 skateboard and some DVDs. The coworker who spends $1600 each year put her kid back in the pile. Take away the one kid that another coworker so generously took and the two kids Chris and I will buy for and this leaves three kids in my hands with no Christmas presents. FABULOUS!

How did something that was supposed to be fun and giving turn into a meeting and leave three kids with nothing? Oh, and he wanted ME to go shopping for the kid. (Can you tell this guy loves to delegate even though he's not the boss?) I suggested someone else go since my husband and I would already be doing this for other kids. Now I have to find someone else to adopt these kids, possibly buy for them myself or send them back to ARC, which is not an option. (Last year, some woman committed to buying for two sisters and about three days before the gifts had to be in she bailed out. So the ARC volunteer called me asking if I could help. You betcha! I just can't see these kids going without a Christmas!)

I don't really want to send out a mass e-mail... I hate those. I may be contacting our church to see if they would help. They are extremely giving and do a lot for the community already. If for some reason they can't, I may call the newspaper. Who knew that the people at the newspaper would help out more willingly than the new fellow employees?!

I suppose I'm quite disappointed, but as I told Chris the other day, I think I just expect too much out of people. I've always been this way, and I'm beginning to think it's one of my biggest downfalls. I know I could do so much more to make the world a better place on so many levels, so I guess I can't be so critical. But every job I've ever had and everything I've set my mind to doing, I've done to the best of my ability and am constantly surrounded by a big bunch of half-assers! I shouldn't have to use half my strength or abilities to motivate those around me to just do what is required, much less any more.

Well, I will take the kids' info, try to give them a great Christmas and know that I tried. I'm telling you what, bah frickin' humbug! What do people have against the baby Jesus anyway?