i’m having an issue

09 Feb 2003 By

I was told yesterday that I’m high maintenance (“but not in a bad way” “I don’t think less of you for it”). Since I wouldn’t let it go, it was further revealed that it’s not so much that I’m high maintenance, but that I seem to expect a higher than average quality of things. I at first interpreted it as “uppity.” I’m not so much offended as I am puzzled. I was not aware that I projected this sort of an image. Of course, I’ve always existed in a circle of people who, for all their diversity, are pretty much like me. People who had a similar upbringing and have ended up (for now) in the same place in life.

This whole thing came out a short while after having a “we have absolutely nothing in common” conversation. I guess that’s really the crux of the matter. Two very divergent paths in life. Someone who never graduated from high school vs. someone who talks about college all the time because that’s where many of my friends are from and where I’ve been hanging out a lot recently (not to mention the sports, hello). A blue collar person vs. a white collar person. A white person whose friends are mostly black vs. a not-all-white person whose friends are mostly white. And to top it off, seemingly divergent ideas on where this not-even-a-relationship-yet relationship is going (or not).

I still don’t know what to think about it. It’s not like I’m posting this here so people can tell me “oh, no you’re not” because I don’t really believe that I am and if somebody did think that I guess I wouldn’t want to know. It’s just weird.

  • http://swerlspice.blogspot.com Em

    Who told you this? Doesn’t matter, actually. But this person should meet me if they want high-maintenance. I am the living, breathing embodiment of high-maintenance. Puerto Rico will be so much fun! (And I say that in a sarcastic tone, not to imply that it won’t be fun, but to remind you how completely different our travel styles are.)

  • http://beenie.highlymoody.com/ Kat

    I personally haven’t noticed you to be high maintenance. That said, so WHAT if you expect things to be higher-than-average? This is something that annoys me. “Average” is a standard that seems to slip a little every day. Not to get all “uppity,” but I think sad that some people feel everyone’s standards should change because average slips.

    And there’s nothing wrong with expecting certain things just because that’s the way they should be, not becuase of what the standard is.

    That’s just my 2 cents though.

  • http://deridere.blogspot.com Kimberley

    Ha! You, high maintenence? I recently told gymrabbit that you reminded me of me, but well, yeah, you know, if you have the height thing.

  • http://thewatergirl.blogspot.com the watergirl

    high maintenance means, to me, prissy. like those sorority girls from the east coast back at u of m. i looked at them and saw what i believed the stereotype of “high maintenance” to be. but that’s just my opinion, and there are probably women in the world who make those girls look like schlupps. likewise, there are probably people who make low-key, jeans-favoring *me* seem high maintenance. it’s all relative.

    p.s.-i may have just made up the word “schlupps”.