No, thank you

Last night I was reading through some of my ancient blog posts embedded now into the history of the Internet. I do this sometimes when there is nothing new to look at on the Internet. I'm not sure there is ever anything new on the Internet. I might have even written this before.

I find that when I'm reading my old posts it is a good idea to stop after about fifteen minutes. My view of these posts as occasionally brilliant and occasionally hilarious devolves slowly into a desperate hope that "surely I can find one more decent one before I stop!"

I have been thinking today about one I wrote concerning my use of the phrase "No problem". I talked about "no problem" vs. "you're welcome" and concluded that I liked "It was my pleasure" best of all. Whether I read it in my first fifteen minutes and found myself an engaging raconteur, or whether I read it later with a sense of profound disquiet is lost to me. 

Nevertheless it was rolling around in my mind when one of my colleagues thanked me for plugging in a bin for them. I almost said "No problem". I thought of "You're Welcome" and "My pleasure", but what I said was "Are you kidding me? I live for doing stuff like this. Thank you for the opportunity."

And so I was on my way, and as small thanks came to me for small deeds...

"Are you thanking me? But it was an exquisite experience for me, perhaps the best time I have ever had in my life."

"Oh god. Thank you! I learned so much and am such a better person now."

"Let us pray together in thanks for this unique opportunity for personal growth."

Of course, I haven't been out with the public yet. This all is just with my co-workers. With the public I might have to tone it down a little. I don't want them to think I'm being sarcastic.