Dear Karma Cleanser:
I was the victim of a very cruel prank. The person I’ve been seeing for several months set me up by having a radio station call me at my workplace. At first I did not realize I was actually on the air, because the radio DJ pretended to be a florist who was sending free flowers to a person of my choice. Later, the details came out and I was very embarrassed and also angry with the guy for doing this to me. I called him back and dumped him, then blocked his number from both my home and cell phones.
Shouldn’t it cause bad karma for this guy to treat me in such a rude way? And doesn’t it bring the radio station bad karma to make fun of people like that? I’m still so angry. I just think they’re going to get some bad repercussions for doing this to an innocent person like me. — Tuned out, turned off
Dare we pull a Paul Harvey here and ask you for the rest of the story? Sounds like you’ve left out a key part of what really embarrassed you here — that you didn’t send the free flowers to your beau. Sure, you’re not obligated to explain your actions, and your guy friend did choose an ass-holish way to test your affection, but the radio station can’t be held accountable for your mixed emotions — or your shady dealings.
Dear Karma Cleanser:
I’m in a quandary that has to do with a woman and a fear of missed opportunity. I worked for three years to build up a reputation in my occupation that I knew would eventually let me move overseas. I found a good job here that had ties to Europe, and now the pieces have fallen into place that will allow me move to France later this year.
However, I’ve gone and met someone who might be “the one” — and even if she’s not, the chemistry is enough to make me want to drop everything and flip burgers just to keep her happy. Is the universe playing a big joke on me? I’m afraid that if I don’t take the new position, I’ll always wonder what if. — Flight or fright?
Go to France. Tell the new girl you’ve got to try it and see. Even if there weren’t a potential Ms. Right waiting in the wings, there would be something else to make you second-guess such a life change. If she is “the one” — if such exists — she’ll understand. And you won’t have to flip burgers to find out either way.
Been bad? karma@creativeloafing.com.
This article appears in Jan 14-20, 2004.
