ambiguous saves the day

Gioconda's youngest son, Aidan(14) would rather take a bullet than ask me for permission to do anything.  I can't say I blame him, because I always say no.

There is a reason, a hard learned reason, on my part.  At my house you can back away from no, but you can never- and I mean never, back away from yes.

It took me about three years to come to this place, but now I am here I am staying.

Lets go back in time.  Lets say about 5 years ago I was asked the following;

Gioconda: Can you drive Aidan to the mall on March 3 at 7:30 pm.

Jody: Yes.

It just so happens on March 3 at 4:32 pm my head was severed from my body.  Miraculously I survive.  Once I can regain control of my vocal chords I call Gicoconda to inform her I am having my head reattached to my body and I will be late getting home.

Gioconda: You are suppose to take Aidan to the mall at 7:30.

Jody: My head is not completely back on yet, I don't think I will be out of here until at least 8:00.

Gioconda: But you said you would take him to the mall at 7:30, when I asked, you said YES.

Really.....

There is no consideration given for intervening causes, if you say yes, you had better be able to deliver.  I always say no.

Perhaps it is because of her vocation, perhaps it is because Gioconda is the type of person who would actually leave a hospital with her head detached in order to drive her son to the mall to see Spiderman Part 5 because she said she would, truthfully I am not exactly sure what it is, but I have learned you had better be precise in what you say, because although you are in a causal environment it as if you are testifying before a judge.

We have a relatively large trash dumpster, because we are consumers and we create a great deal of trash.  

Gioconda: Is the trash going to be dumped on Tuesday?

(unknown intervening cause: the trash guy is on vacation)

Jody : Yes

On Tuesday.....

Jody:  There is sofa and a twin bed box spring in the dumpster.  There is not room for the our mountain of trash.

Gioconda: I told my brother he could use the dumpster, when I asked you if the trash was going to be dumped today you said YES...

Because I said yes....

Now

Gioconda: Is the gardener coming today?

(Pause- think about it, how do you know his wife didn't attack him with a baseball bat last night rendering him unable to push the mower)

Jody: Allegedly.

My most two used words...no and allegedly.     

Vague and ambiguous, words to live by.