If you are in need of a smile maybe this will help.
ANGER MANAGEMENT When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don’t take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don’t know.
It all started one day when I was sitting at my desk and remembered a phone call I had forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it.
A man answered, saying, “Hello.†I politely said, “This is Chris. May I please speak with Robin Carter?â€
Suddenly, the phone was slammed down on me. I couldn’t believe that anyone could be so rude.
I tracked down Robin’s correct number and called her. I had transposed the last two digits of her phone number. After hanging up with her, I decided to call the ‘wrong’ number again.
When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled, “You’re an asshole!†and hung up. I wrote his number down with the word ‘asshole’ next to it, and put it in my desk drawer.
Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I’d call him up and yell, “You’re an asshole!†It always cheered me up.
When Caller ID came to our area, I thought my therapeutic ‘asshole’ calling would have to stop. So, I called his number and said: “Hi, this is John Smith from the Telephone Company. I’m just calling to see if you’re interested in the Caller ID program?†He yelled “NO!†and slammed the phone down.
I quickly called him back and said, “That’s because you’re an asshole!â€
One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot. Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I had been waiting for the spot. The idiot ignored me. I noticed a “For Sale†sign in his car window, so I wrote down his number.
A couple of days later, right after calling the first asshole (I had his number on speed dial), I thought I had better call the BMW asshole, too.
I said, “Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?â€
“Yes, it is.†“Can you tell me where I can see it?â€
“Yes, I live at 1802 West 34th Street. It’s a yellow house, and the car’s parked right out in front.â€
“What’s your name?†“My name is Don Burgemeyer,†he said.“When’s a good time to catch you, Don?â€
“I’m home every evening after five.â€
“Listen, Don, can I tell you something?â€
“Yes?†“Don, you’re an asshole.â€
Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too.
Now, when I had a problem, I had two assholes to call. But after several months of calling them, it wasn’t as enjoyable as it used to be.
So, I came up with an idea. I called Asshole #1.
“Hello.â€
“You’re an asshole!†(But I didn’t hang up.)“Are you still there?†he asked.
“Yeah,†I said.
“Stop calling me,†he screamed.
“Make me,†I screamed back.
“Who are you?†he demanded.
“My name is Don Burgemeyer.â€
“Yeah? Where do you live?â€
“I live at 1802 West 34th Street, ASSHOLE!
It’s a yellow house, with my black beemer parked in front.â€
He said, “I’m coming over there right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers.â€
I said, “Yeah, like I’m really scared, asshole.â€
Then I called Asshole #2.
“Hello?†he said. “Hello, asshole,†I said…again, without hanging up.
He yelled, “If I ever find out who you are!â€
“Yeah, you’ll what?†I said. “I’ll kick your ass,†he exclaimed.
I answered, Well, asshole, here’s your chance. I’m coming over right now.â€
Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 1802 West 34th Street, and that I was on my way home to kill my gay lover.
Then I called Channel 9 News to let them know about the war going down on West 34th Street.
I quickly got into my car and headed over to 34th street.
There I saw two assholes beating the crap out of each other in front of six squad cars, a police helicopter, and a news crew.
NOW, I feel better.
Anger management really works!!!
I run this post every so often because it makes people smile and it is what you call evergreen. Most of the time it is under the headline Anger Management.
I am not the official author and have yet to find him/her. If I do I will be glad to provide full attribution.
Carolyn says
Hello Jack, This is a riot! What a brilliant way for someone to get their anger out of their system.
I’m so glad I have Caller ID!
Jack says
Hi Carolyn,
Yeah, it is an old favorite. I wish I knew who wrote it, they deserve to get some credit.
Sarah Park says
Very clever anger management strategy. But I don’t think I can do it.
Ron Whitaker says
I actually had to breathe a sigh of relief. I thought at first that perhaps this was an actual experience of yours!
I kept thinking “what’s our world coming to?”
Jack says
Nope this was just for fun it’s all made up.
Rob says
My friend, you big %@#%@#!
I’m at the library and just had to share with my wife and daughter (also at the library). We are the ones laughing out loud and being shushed. Feel like a kid again.
Thanks!
Jack says
I’m glad you enjoyed this and that it brought a smile to your face. There’s never too much laughter.
D. A. Wolf says
Excellent! (And to think, for my bad days I’ve been using French films… and Colin Firth…)
Jack says
Hi D.A.,
Some times it helps to mix it up a bit. 😉
Julie Barrett says
Thank you for posting this…I had my head in my hands in a waiting room when it scrolled on by 🙂
Jack says
The doctor says to read it twice.
Gina says
PRICELESS!!! I totally thought you wrote it the entire time. You could have.
Jack says
Hi Gina,
I wish I could say I had written this, but alas I can’t.
Sandi Amorim says
Haven’t had my coffee yet, but this woke me up fast when I snorted out loud!
Jack says
Hi Sandi,
Any time I can make people smile I feel like I have done something extra special.
Stan Faryna says
LOL!
Jack says
🙂
Kristen says
Ha! This post reminds me of another great method of anger management: laughter! 😉
Jack says
Hi Kristen,
Laughter is at the top of my list.
Aaron Brinker says
Jack,
This made me smile this morning! I do miss the days before caller ID. There were benefits to being able to call random strangers and not worry about repercussions….yikes!
I think I feel worse for my 4 year-old son than anything. It will be one of the random things he will never get to know the joy of in life (life before caller ID). I write a post every so often about things he will never know….it might be time to work on another one….sigh….
Aaron Brinker aka DadBlunders
Jack says
Hi Aaron,
I used to hate Caller ID. It irked me to no end that people would look at the number and decide whether they wanted to talk. Don’t know why, but it did and then one day I realized I liked doing it too.
Anyhow, I think our kids are missing out on a lot of things that were fun and kind of nice, but part of me says that is ok because they have things we never did.
Still kind of weird to see how different life is for them.