Dear Reader Column 05-16-07

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Dear Reader,

Sometimes people "should" tell a lie.

For instance my sixth grade teacher should have lied when she looked at my art project. I imagine in today's art world my colorful creation could have been categorized as Modern and Contemporary Art. But my teacher wanted a tree to look like a tree. She shook her head and suggested I try again next week. Personally, I thought the project was one of my most creative attempts and because I was a kid who thrived on praise, I never really "tried" after that. I always colored inside the lines--the tree trunk was always brown and the leaves were always green.

Sometimes I "wish" people would tell a lie.

Last month I bought a new dress, and on my way out of the store, I ran into my friend and her sister. 'Oh goodie' I was thinking, 'now I get to show off my new dress right away.'

"Look at what I just bought." By then, I'd taken the dress out of the bag and was "modeling" it, holding it up in front of me, sashaying back and forth, waiting to hear the oohs and ahs. "Isn't it great? And it only cost $85.00."

My friend knew exactly what I wanted to hear, her oohs and ahs were coming through loud and clear, "Oh, Suzanne, that dress looks fantastic on you and what a great bargain." But apparently her sister didn't understand how this kind of "I-just-bought-something-new" conversation works.

"Eighty-five dollars?" her sister butted in, "I bet you could have found that same dress at Wyman's for less, and in a better color."

Sometimes people are "forced" to tell a lie.

"Thank you for that shopping tip. I really appreciate it."

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
(And "that" is not a lie.)

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

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Comments

[Donna Brown]

Some people just can't let a moment go by without squashing another person's bubble of joy. My advise is to avoid these people at all costs. They are the nay-sayers of the world. I love to see somebody light up when something positive is said to them. It makes may day. Love you, Suzanne. DB