Sometimes there are Strings

No not the kind of string you tie a package up with or fly a kite with. Some people put out these invisible strings and you don't know they are there until firmly entangled in them.

Not too long ago, some ladies at work threw me a little birthday luncheon. They decorated(or rather trashed) my office as is the tradition there for every ten years. With it being my 50th birthday and my husband away, they thought it would be a good thing. And it really was. I enjoyed it very much and appreciated their thoughtfulness. A week later, Mrs M was sitting in my office and she happened to mention that Mrs T threw away a piece of my desk that was laying on the floor for no apparent reason. It's been there for ever and did have a purpose. I was a little upset about people deciding what in my office is trash not to mention them taking it upon themselves to toss it. So I went over to talk to Mrs T discussing the fact that I prefer to decide which things of the things in my office get disposed and which do not. She apologized profusely and everything was cool right? Wrong.

After I got back to my desk, Mrs M said she was sorry it happened but the way I was acting made it seem like.............

Like what I asked? She said it made it seem like I didn't appreciate the party they threw me(a week ago.) and all their effort was wasted. At that point I practically ran around the cubicle wall telling her that was a bunch of cr*p and insisted the two were totally unrelated occurrences. I told her I wasn't falling for the guilt card she was throwing out! Mrs M said she can't understand why I would get so upset over something so insignificant. I informed her that throwing away the stuff in my office is significant to me.

Of course I appreciated the party as did my daughter and I "thought" we all had fun. I guess Mrs M didn't buy that because she said she will never do anything for me again or touch my office again.

So it seems there were some invisible strings attached to that party from this particular person. I guess somehow doing something nice for me meant I would behave the way she wanted me to behave for..... the rest of the year? As far as not falling for the guilt card, I did despite what I said. I was firmly entangled in those strings and the guilt the minute I chose to take any action that would upset her. I should've known this.

I guess that was my last luncheon at work or at least the last one organized by the woman with the strings. I don't understand why people can't do nice things just because it feels good.
No strings attached.