At approximately 5 p.m., someone in my firm sent out an e-mail offering Patriots tickets for tomorrow’s game.
The Patriots are my team.
I want to watch the Patriots play football, in person.
- I have approximately 90 seconds to reply to this email.
- Where the hell are they even playing?
- What would Beloved think?
- I wish E were home – it’s her I’d really want to bring
- Isn’t it supposed to RAIN tomorrow?
- If they’re in New York (game’s against the Giants, that much I knew), I’ll have to get a zipcar for the whole day, and maybe more – this is a lot of money – I know I (for once) actually have it, but still.
- We were supposed to take care of J’s computer tomorrow
- What if the seats suck?
But when the e-mail arrived in my box, I had a moment where 1,000 thoughts flashed through my mind, as follows:
Well.
- They’re here, in MA
- The seats rock
- Beloved if upset with me (as in, disappointed – not as in mad)
- E is mad (not disappointed) – apparently preferring to hear first-hand accounts to nothing at all
- We really can afford it (tickets were offered at $80/each …. uh? yeah. we can do $160).
- This is an amazing year – probably not to be duplicated.
Clearly, I didn’t snatch the tickets. Someone had them within 60 seconds … and I could have, if I didn’t hesitate.
I wish I didn’t hesitate.
Balance of Power 
Actually, I’m pretty sure they’re playing at the Meadowlands tomorrow, so no harm no foul. (If that makes you feel better about losing them!)
Oh!! You are right! Beloved thought they were home.
This makes me feel better.
And, we looked up the seats at the home stadium, so I bet these seats suck, too.
So ha.
Thanks!
This happens at my work all the time and I’ve learned to not even think before I reply. We live in a city with great music/arts and that’s something my parents are really into. If I score them something, they are always thrilled. Not sure what I would do if they weren’t, though… Send out another e-mail? It’s something to think about before responding, I suppose.