I’ve Had Enough of You! Good bye!

by Marinka on February 27, 2009

There are some things that I don’t do well and one of them ending a phone conversation smoothly. I don’t transition well. When I get tired of speaking on the phone, I say “Ok, good bye” which I thought was perfectly appropriate, until a college friend pointed out that it was really sudden and I didn’t give adequate warning.
What does that mean? Should I be starting every phone conversation with a “I don’t want to alarm you, but I will be ending this conversation at some point, so please do not get too attached”?
Recently John and I were on the phone and when I tried to get rid of him with a “well, I better get going,” he became enraged.
“I am the man,” he told me. “I will decide when this conversation is over.” So we talked about that for a while, and about which one of us is the more masculine, all things considered and then he said something like, “ok, you’re draining me,” and hung up.
One of the magazines I read said that a good way to end a phone conversation is “I’m sorry that I have to let you go.”  I think that sounds like you’re struggling with mental illness, and not winning.
So, if you have any tips  on ending the phone conversation smoothly, please share.
Ok, I’m bored now. 
Bye.

One year ago ...

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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

anne flournoy February 21, 2012 at 4:50 pm

“I think that sounds like you’re struggling with mental illness, and not winning.” Thank you for making me laugh out loud.

I veer in the other direction, terrified of the awkward transition of getting off the phone. For some reason, seeing John Barrymore (in 20th Century?) exclaiming over and over, with great authority, throughout the movie that he was “clo-sing the iron door” (it was a metaphor) marked me or at least pointed out how cold any separation can feel.

GDRP’s column sent me here. Thank you!

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