Reflection

Bloss insisted that I have serious communication problems – that I am lousy at communicating.

“Maybe that’s why you always have problems with your vendors.”

Ouch. That hurts.

But she’s my good old pal and so, I reckon there must be some truth in it… And so, I decide to do some quiet reflection.

It all started because I was supposed to make reservations for dinner for all seven of us in the evening.

At 10:14am, I sent the following sms to Bloss and Butter:

Bubbs: “Morn, gals! In case you start chasing me, I’ll make reservations at XXX at 7? Bloss, we may need you to pick us up from town or wat, OK? Confirm later. Will sms u after I make reservations after my lessons.”

At 10:20am,

A series of SMS exchange between me and Butter… But I DID NOT receive any sms from Bloss the entire morning and early afternoon…

At 3:19 pm after I called the restaurant and realised that they have only two time slots for dinner reservations – either 5.30 pm or 8.00 pm… (I made reservations for 8.00pm.)

Bubbs: Meet at entrance of XXX at 730 pm. Bloss, can u pick us up from town? Paul’s joining us too.

At 3:20 pm,

Bloss: Orchard MRT. 630.

Bubbs: OK. I’ll let Butter noe.

At 3:22 pm,

Bubbs: Wait. 630? So early for wat? Tables only avail between 745 n 8 lei. Cos they divide into 2 slots. Either 530 or 8 slot. Say 710 at Orchard MRT.

At 3:24pm,

Bloss: I thought you said dinner reservation made for 7pm.

At 3:29 pm,

Bubbs: U din read my 2nd sms ya? 730 pm. For dinner, they have 2 slots only. 530 or 8.

At 3:31pm,

Bloss: I did. I meant when you sent the sms this morning to say reservation made for 7 pm, pple will usu understand tat to mean dinner starts at 7. That’s why I said pick you gals at 630.

At 3:33 pm,

Bubbs: Tat was morn before I made reservations mah. How I noe they got the silly 2 round thing? Then can’t get earlier cos butter got “appt” mah.

At 3:34 pm,

Bloss: Watever. 710 then.

The 2nd miscommunication came about when I did not inform Bloss I would not be taking her car to the dinner place with Butter. I only told Butter that I would not be joining her to take Bloss’ car because I would be taking someone else’s.

(OK – to which I admitted it’s my oversight - I should have dropped a sms to inform Bloss – but at that point in time, I thought it was unnecessary since Butter would have told her anyway…) And so, a series of SMSes again…

***

Bloss: Butter said you will be taking David’s car and not meeting us first, right?

Bubbs: Yes, OK right?

Bloss: OK. Just wanted to confirm because from your sms in the morning, it sounded like you are taking my car too.

Bubbs: I was planning to. But he offered and since I do not have to travel down all the way down to town…

***

Well… I admitted I should have told the one driving (and not the passenger) that I would not be taking a ride from her… but for the dinner reservations… can someone please tell me where did I go wrong in causing so much confusion?

Sigh…