Trust, gossip and me....

Gossip has been a hot topic amongst my friends lately. Particularly, damaging third-hand stuff.

I must admit I feel a bit like the Olympia Dukakis character in Steel Magnolias who says "Hunny, if you haven't got anything nice to say about anyone, come sit by me" when girlfriends start to dish on one another. It is fascinating stuff sometimes. Mind you hearing passed on info that essentially shakes free someone's closet boneyard can be rather smarmy feeling after you've heard the lurid details. Have you ever heard something about someone and then thought secretly...."I need a shower"

But do I really want/ need to know this information? How does it hurt or damage the person being talked about? Mostly, I try to consider the source and see what derision of power or glee the "teller" is getting from the story. Is the gossip being purveyed with someone's best interests or is it malicious???

I have been known to get my gossip on, especially when smarting or hurt by someone. Mostly I have
tried to grow up past this in the last ten years and have actually had to carve friendships away from myself with women who live in the misery of other's drama....So how do I feel about it now? I'm sitting with this and making desicions...mostly about how I want to proceed and be percieved.

Let's face it, I sure as shit don't need anyone strolling my skeletons outta my closet. That's why my closest girlfriends (who have all sorts of info on me) are called my "Graveyard Girls"....cause that is where we will finally be able to tell all ;) If my sister is laid to rest next to me you'll still hear giggling into the next millenium....:)

Have anyone like that? A "bosom friend" as Ann Shirley would say that could basically set people's hair on fire with what she knows about you? How does it feel having that kind of info roaming the Earth? Do you still trust her????

Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you. ~Spanish Proverb