Like everyone else, I’ve been encouraged to review the event, and this is my second version of that review..
You see, when I first wrote it, it was so full of piss, bile and anger that I believe it may even qualify as an actual black magick spell. I sat on it, not wanting to say goodbye to Tension in that way, and hoping something could turn around. I’m glad I did.
Without getting into unnecessary details, Tension knew how far I was coming, and I left wondering if they even knew I’d turned up. As far as I was concerned, I adored the friends I’d made, but Tension could go to hell.
I don’t want to dissect all the things that went wrong for me, but here’s some; No address emailed to me, no name badge, and I confirmed with my own eyes that my name wasn’t even printed on the attendee list. Sure, “|||” had been scribbled on the side in a different pen, but that’s not my name, I had no assigned number, and my experience was no different than if I really had been forgotten about – which I’m still not entirely convinced isn’t what actually happened.
After the event, I had to leave the bar when everyone was sharing the stories of what had happened to them, as the scariest thing that happened to me that day was eating one of Rizzo’s tacos. Some friends joined me outside, and we talked about anything else.
Since then, I have been contacted *many* times by a number of different O.O.A. entities. Honestly, I almost didn’t answer the phone the first time, and when I did I wasn’t exactly exuding warmth. The person on the other end understood why I was angry, and I quickly received an email from this person, apologizing for the errors, assuring me it was a mistake and explaining what had happened. As they put it though, “Excuses, excuses”, and I immediately replied saying I was only here for the night, because I was planning to start driving around midnight, and they should put their money where their mouth is, and meet me.
That response started a flurry of activity, eventually culminating at 8:20pm with another phone call and assurance I would receive a call back a little later, with details on meeting someone at 11am today (Monday). I told the person that this meeting involves significantly rescheduling my life, changing plans of all the things I was supposed to do today and tomorrow, and I made it clear this is a BIG thing for me to arrange – and if it turns out like the event did, they would never hear from me again.
I stayed awake until 2am waiting for the call. It never came, but several more emails rolled in after midnight. I thought the meeting was still on.
In the morning, an email and phone call confirmed that the 11am appointment was cancelled – so as not to waste my time! Considering the gesture I’d made to stay, I didn’t understand this at all; Fucking with people’s lives and businesses was beyond the lines I thought Tension might cross.
Instead of meeting anyone, something happened for four minutes and fourteen seconds late this afternoon. It was meaningful, I appreciated it – but I could also have done it from home, or even while driving.
Having said that, the efforts made to apologize and keep reaching out, to try to give me some kind of experience or connection, is deeply appreciated. They could have just cut me loose and assumed I will be so full of vinegar that they wouldn’t be able to salvage anything.
I don’t fault Tension for accidents and genuine mistakes, but I’m not sure canceling the appointment today counts as either. That said, I’m still here. I have unfinished business.
The people I’ve met through Tension, have had enough praise showered on them, so I won’t drop any more, but they know. <3
