Grumpy Old Man

by Thomas Greco, Publisher

Last December, I turned 64, so I guess you can officially call me a grumpy old man.

And it seems I am getting grumpier every day. There are a lot of reasons why we get less lovable as we grow older. It seems the older you get, the more the aches and pains, the stress, the aggravation all seem to get worse. Even the little things.

Especially the little things.

For example: As I’m sure you know, every year, I run a scholarship in the memory of my late sister Diane. We began small when it was funded by just myself, her daughter Katie and Glenn Villacari. But after a few years, most of my siblings, nieces, nephews and kids decided to chip in, and it has grown to $5,000 for one fortunate Nutley High School football player. So, as I do every year, I sent out a text to all 18 previous donors.

“Hey everyone, it’s Diane scholarship time. Text me if and how much you want to donate. Thx.” To be discreet, I asked them to text me individually so I would be the only one who knew how much each donated. Within an hour, I received four responses. And then nothing. Okay. People are busy. No problem. 

Twenty four hours later…still nothing. Now, I know I have chubby fingers, but do people really think I text just to exercise them? I know for a fact that every one of those people had to have looked at their phone at least once in the previous 24 hours. No one goes that long without looking at their phone except my mother-in-law. And that’s because she doesn’t have a goddamn phone! What the f@#k is their problem?

So tell me, am I the grumpy one? 

So, I did what I do best and sent another text.

“Ok, so Alex, Ralph and Connie, Katie and Michelle are in. Anyone else?”

Within seconds, I received this response from one of my nephews in a private text:

“Wow. Way to call people out without calling people out.”

“Seriously? It’s been 24 hours. Show some respect and respond one way or another. Don’t just pretend you didn’t see it.”

“I did see it. I was thinking of what I was going to commit to.”

“I was referring to everyone, not just you.”

“I know. You can put me down for $100.”

So let me get this straight: He needed over 24 hours to decide to give 100 bucks? A hundred bucks??

Look, I have no problem whether they give one dollar or one thousand dollars…or if they don’t give at all. There’s no pressure. Just answer the damn text. However, keep in mind the ages on that text chain range from
27-64, all of whom make a good or great living. Yet, he had the nerve to say he needed a full day to decide about donating 100 bucks? I should have said, “Take a week to think some more and see if you can make it $105.”

Sheesh. 

So tell me, am I the grumpy one? 

But he’s not the only one. How many of you reading this ignore texts? Why? I can understand if it’s someone you don’t like, or someone who wants something, but that’s not true all the time. I text some of my closest friends and relatives, and I get oogotz back. Do they think what I have to say has no meaning? Do they think I’m trying to bother them? Do they think I have nothing better to do? I’m probably only texting them because they won’t answer the f@#king phone! It’s RUDE. 

So tell me, am I the grumpy one? 

How about this: Someone texts you a question, and you text back immediately with a question of your own, and then they don’t answer for hours. Why the f@#k did you start the conversation?? Christ, it’s maddening. 

So tell me, am I the grumpy one? 

Even at the office! We have an internal messaging system. Whenever we message each other, it dings or pops up on the screen. Yet every day, I’ll send a message to someone in the office, and I won’t get an answer for 10 minutes! We only have four rooms in our office. I can freaking hear their computers beep. Why the f@#K can’t they? Yet, mine beeps 1,000 times a day whether I am in a meeting, on the phone, in the bathroom…It drives me insane, but I still respond as soon as possible (even though I’m the boss and don’t have to! LOL).

So tell me, am I the grumpy one? 

Here’s another. I usually come into the office after noon. When I ask a question or call someone into the office, I shouldn’t have to wait. They’ve had three hours to do stuff without me bothering them. Although I admit it’s true, I have an unwritten rule that no one should talk to me the first 30 minutes I get in…so in this case, I guess I am, in fact, the grumpy one.

They always say patience is a virtue. Well, I am neither patient nor virtuous. 

But I am grumpy. 

(And boy, am I gonna pay for those last two paragraphs.) 

Want more? Check out the March 2025 issue of New Jersey Automotive!