From what I can tell, my carpool arrangement is no longer in effect. With all of my moaning and groaning on the topic, one might expect a jubilant cry of freedom from this development, but I am somewhat speechless.
See, after my carpool partner, Joe, suggested the trade-off a month ago, we carpooled steadily for the first two weeks. The following week, he had visiting consultants at the office and anticipated late meetings, so I was off the hook. The next week started with Memorial Day, so I figured that we would play it by ear. However, I thought it was strange when I didn’t hear from Joe at all last week, since he had taken the initiative all along. I’ve been enjoying my newly-solo commutes, but at the same time, the sudden break in communication with no explanation leaves me a bit put out.
I feel oddly rejected. Was that one instance of cutting off another car enough to scare Joe away? Was I not sufficiently chatty? Did I roll my eyes too obviously when he asked to stop for coffee? Was he very annoyed that one time he called from my driveway, apologizing for being early, and I was not out of the house for five minutes? Wait, was that our last day of carpooling? It was!
I don’t suppose I can blame Joe for not renewing our carpool contract. We were not on the same schedule, and I doubt that either of us was completely free of the ire arising from being bound to another person’s comings and goings. But still! Not even an e-mail to validate the four out of seven times that I drove? I would like some closure, please.
In the past couple of weeks, I’ve been slightly shifty in trying to ensure that I don’t run into Joe in the neighborhood. I steer Ted around to different routes to avoid confrontation, in the hopes that Joe and I won’t have to make small talk on the sidewalk, pretending that our two-week arrangement never existed. Maybe it wasn’t me; it was him. Maybe he wasn’t ready for a commitment. Maybe the timing just wasn’t right for where we are in our lives. Maybe we should just be friends.
10 comments
This is just a suggestion, but why don’t you just email him & find out what’s going on ? Then you can give a proper funeral to your (R.I.P) Carpool Project.
Maybe he’s scretly in love with you and couldn’t handle spending all that time in the car with you?
Or maybe he got fired and couldn’t bear to tell you.
I like Kathleen’s suggestion. I would have to know why no more carpooling?
He can’t break up with you, you weren’t even dating! Er, I mean, carpooling. Whatever.
This is precisely why I’m hesitant to join the carpooler system at my work. Just too many personal variables involved. Plus, I like being able to turn up the iPod and sing horrible, horrible ’80s songs during my commute. I shan’t reveal that part of my personality to a co-worker I hardly know, you know? But still, with gas prices still rising, I might have to give in and give it a try. Harumph.
I’m with Kathleen - an e-mail inquiry is definitely in order.
To compensate, you should pick up hitchhikers.
Oh no! I’m betting that Joe just got swept up in some other work or personal project and forgot all about carpooling. Perhaps you’ll reunite some day!
If anything, he should be dodging YOU! Weird that he would be so pro-carpooling and then just vanish…
Oh my gosh, this situation would make me feel so uncomfortable. I feel awkward for you! I might go with the e-mail approach. Just check in and see what’s the what, and if you part ways, so be it.
I know what you mean. Now it has reached the critical point of awkwardness: I think it would be more weird to email him. If you don’t email, then you can play it off like you’ve just been busy.
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