THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO MANY PLACES WITH A FEW REPLIES (non that exciting)
The Institute for Stress Management
#102 - 3023 Shannon Lakes, N.
Tallahassee, FL 32309
Dec 13th , 2004
To Whom It May Concern:
Hi! I am writing today to see if I can get your expert opinion on certain events I have witnessed. You see, I share a house with someone I have known for only a few years. In that time, I have witnessed a series of what I believe to be stress related outbursts and acts of low level violence. Until now, I have brushed them off as eccentric behavior; but with the most recent act, I am begging to wonder if it is.
My roommate works as a plow driver for the city, and in Winnipeg, the winters can be long and harsh. He is constantly heading out the door to clear a driveway, parking lot, or road. On many occasions, I have returned from my job to find him outside yelling at the snow. They say Eskimos have over 90 words for snow; my roommate easily has over 100 obscenities for it. If one moment sticks out the most my, it is the day he said “I’m gonna kick your ass snow”.
A few months ago, as the winter was coming to a close, I came home to find him doing just that. He had created, dressed, and as I pulled into the driveway, was proceeding to punch, kick, and slap a snowman. He beat that thing right into the ground. I was so shocked, I found myself laughing until it hurt too much to laugh. In passing days, I would find clumps of snow with coal on the lawn, and question him about it. He said that the neighbor’s kids had probably made snowmen and the wind knocked them down, or something of the sort. Although I have no concrete proof, I believe he had a few other altercations with these snowmen. As to his state of mind: I gave him the benefit of the doubt and just labeled him as being unusually cruel towards the natural elements. Sadly, I had no idea how cruel he could become.
All the snow in Winnipeg melted shortly after this instance, and the city remained snow free until one day a few weeks later. I spent the day home; the roads were too awful to go to work. After an afternoon nap, I awoke to find my roommate in the backyard. He had spent the morning making a small igloo and yet another snowman. When I entered the kitchen, I discovered he had attached the garden hose to the hot water faucet above the sink. Having no idea what he was up to, I went outside to question him. The second I stepped out of the door, it became all too clear. He had positioned the snowman to face the igloo. He then used the hot water hose to melt down the snowman’s house in front of his charcoal eyes, all the while laughing. Seconds later, he turned the hose on the snowman, until he was reduced to nothing more than a steaming pile of slush.
The event has left a sour scent in my mind, and I am writing to you today to hear your opinion on this matter. I only condone it because he has never shown any negative aggression to me or any non-snow person I have known. With the summer months soon coming to a close, I know that this behavior will soon resurface. Should I ask him to seek counseling, or do you think his actions are therapeutic and therefore worthwhile?
In anticipation of your reply,
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