Have you ever been angry, I mean red-hot angry and with a lot of money in your pockets! Years back I had this friend who’s your ideal drinking partner. In his presence no one, not even the most humorless, dry-wood sort of guy couldn’t wear a frown or the “How I hate this world!” face.
The guy has his way with words and he could spin the most hilarious joke out of something you wouldn’t have given a second thought. He was indeed one hell of an interesting fellow. But despite all his charm and appeal and “How could anybody not like such a jolly guy!” behavior he has one, a very costly one too.
Now he wasn’t the type easily given to anger. Even if you deliberately try to make him angry you’ll have hills to climb and gorges to cut through. It won’t be an easy task. But once he reaches the tipping point the transformation is so complete no one could swear they ever set their eyes on the guy before. Despite all his anger the way he deals with it is not scaring the daylight out of us close to him; or giving his girlfriend a black eye for no particular reason; or reporting sick and locking himself up.
He drinks! That’s what he does. He drinks like you’ve never seen anyone drinking! If by chance you came across him while he was in this state, you’ve to drink! It is not about your not being interested or your belly being hit by a tsunami; he tells you to drink and you do just that if you want the friendship candle to continue glowing.
Now, I thought of that wonderful guy when I heard of a lady who when she is really angry goes out shopping. She collects all the money she can manage and goes to the most expensive shops. No amount of advice could make her change this behavior. The problem is she being married woman her behavior is putting much strain on her marriage! The interesting part is when in a day or two she comes back to her senses she regrets her actions.
“What is this long face now: Don’t tell me you have fought with you husband!
“We will tonight.”
“Why? What did he do to you?”
“It is not what he did to me; it is what I did to him.”
“Ok if this isn’t a joke what exactly did you do?”
“I was angry yesterday over something and went shopping.”
“Oh, not again! When will you ever stop this childish behavior! Does he know?”
“He will when he finds out I withdrew eight thousand birr from our joint account.”
“And you spent it all!”
“Every last cent.”
That was what our drinking friend felt the morning after. Having spent every last cent he can lay his fingers on the blow on his finances is a KO! Spending money in anger! Believe me when you feel someone should pay for you weekend’s drinks there is no host better than an angry man who cures his anger by spending money! With his pockets lined with lots of money you could even get stoned over drinks you thought were reserved to those with nine digit bank accounts.
You need someone to tell you, “Look this isn’t worth it. Just think the many hours you have to salve to get that amount of money. And you are about to blow it away in a single afternoon! Spending all that money to get over your rage triggered by one thing or another! Whoever told you that as some strategy doesn’t know what strategy means.
The Ethiopian Herald May 9/2021