Pimp My Pride?

You know… when people compliment me on my car, I never know what to say.  I mean, it’s just a car.  I didn’t design it.  I didn’t build it.  I went into a showroom, pointed at something and bought it… not that tough.  So whenever they say something, I usually try to point out how kind of silly a comment like that is by replying, “yeah, made it myself… took a long time.”  This is when they either chuckle or start backing away slowly.

I mean, if someone baked a batch of chocolate chip cookies and you say, “Mmmm, good cookies,”  I can understand the compliment would show that  you appreciate the time they took and the skill they had to make such fine cookies.  If you said, “Nice hair!” I would take that to mean that they take care of their hair and were good at selecting a hairstyle that flatters them – maybe even that they have good genes.  Even if you said, “Nice shirt” you’d at least be complimenting them on their fashion sense and color coordinating abilities, right?

But what are you saying when you compliment someone on something they simply bought?  Is it “hey, you have the means to buy a nice car – good for you!” or “nice job spending?”  If they bought two cars at half the price each, would you say the same thing?  If instead of buying a car, they put that money into an IRA or other investment, would you say anything?

I have a watch that my sister-in-law gave to me for Christmas.  It looks a little like this:

People are always coming up to me and telling me how nice it is.  I think it’s because the watch pictured above is the very popular but somewhat pricey Movado.  But mine is not the above.

 This is mine, a Fossil.  I like it a lot, but when people find out it’s a Fossil, they seem a little disappointed and maybe a little embarrassed that they complimented the more affordable version.  (Ever notice that almost all watch and clock photos read 10:10?)

I knew this girl who would walk up to me, flip over my tie to see the brand, and then choose to tell me whether she liked it or not.  I don’t think she even realized she was doing this.  I seriously wanted to one day put a fake designer label on a tie from Walmart and see what she would say about it.

I think it’s a constant battle for me to keep my pride in check.  It’s too easy to let compliments go to my head… especially about things I have no business being proud about – possessions being a big one.  This is probably the main reason I don’t know how to respond to compliments about things I own, because in the end all those things get thrown away anyway.

So, thanks for liking my car… or my fake Movado watch… or my Walmart tie with the transplanted designer label, but I’d rather you notice my thought-provoking entries and laser-sharp wit – HAHA!  I’m kidding.

And to answer the obvious question that will probably be forthcoming from those of you who don’t know what I drive…

but before you pass judgment, please read my previous entry… Can a Christian Drive a BMW?