I went to a wedding and reception. Just me and Miss Ky.
Spotting our table, I noticed that a couple I had spoken to previously were looking at their seats-- anxiously. The wife would be placed on the other side of Miss Ky's high chair.
The husband switched with her.
Feeling now that maybe we weren't everyone's first choice to sit next to, I hoped Miss Ky would behave herself and I wouldn't do anything too obnoxiously American. She did, and I didn't... I think.
That was a few months ago and I was just able to visit with the bride this last saturday. She apologized for not getting around to me more (there were LOADS of people in attendance, I wasn't expecting coddling) but I mentioned how the guests we were seated with were so nice and then laughed about the last-minute seat change.
Apparently, it had nothing to do with Miss Ky at all.
The woman is painfully shy and making conversation with someone she doesn't know is a horrifying experience for her. She had managed to sit between her husband and son and avoided most conversation.
That made me think about what I avoid.
I can be having a great chat outside of the school, say my good-byes and then I will purposely drive out of my way to avoid going back by the same people.
For what-- to avoid straining my hand in a wave? I just feel dumb waving at the people I just said good-bye to.
Is that strange?
Have you ever seen someone you knew (and liked perfectly well) and then detoured to avoid talking to them?
How many times have you changed your route through a store because you feel at a loss as to what to say the third or fourth time you meet up with the same person in the aisle?
Do you type out comments to posts and then delete them?
How do you feel about sitting in a restaurant/cafe/coffee shop alone-- oh, without a book? What do you look at?
Maybe that's what makes this virtual world so great. We visit when it's convenient and slip out of the room when we're feeling a little grumpy. We wave at each other often, and I don't mind when you come around in the middle of the night. And I know more about most of you than I know about some of my real-life friends (it's mutual).
So tell me, are you a little strange too?
Or did I just tell you too much again?
Yes I am a little strange also. I am extremely shy and unless I know someone or am in a comfort zone will avoid people to avoid making conversation.
ReplyDeleteI can totally relate. But it makes me sad that I avoid relating to other people as much as I do. I've learned to - sometimes - make myself go out of my way to talk to people I know. I try and think of how I'd feel if I thought someone was avoiding me. I'd be paranoid. It's all just awkward.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting the missing picture!
I am completely not strange at all all. Nope, totally normal. I think all normal people will happily talk to anyone or anything cuz they just have SO MUCH TO SAY!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think normal people avoid paying bills by refusing to think about them!
Hallie :)
um...I think you already know I'm weird. And I also lean to the hermit end of the spectrum these days.
ReplyDeleteIf you catch my latest post, you will learn how crazy I can be.
ReplyDeleteI'm about as strange as they come.
ReplyDeleteI've not walked into a store if I knew that someone I knew was in there. I get really picky about the days that I want people to see me.
I hate having people I know walk into a place where I'm eating too. I just want my hubby to myself and he will always invite them to join us...
I'm very happy in my virtual world. Of course, I would LOVE to meet you!
You make me feel completely normal because I do the same things. I deal with depression/anxiety on a daily basis. I don't always like to talk to people (even very good friends). I have moments where I am highly unsociable and it drives my husband crazy.
ReplyDeleteI'll mention calling one of our couple friends and H will say yeah, call them. I'll dial MY phone and hand it to HIM to talk. He HATES that, but I don't always like to talk (especially on the phone - I do that all day long).
I hate meeting someone when we're out to dinner. I'm terrible with names, but great with faces and I never know what to say.
I love the blogosphere. I feel right at home here with all of you. :-)
I was not well socialized as a child. Strange to say, I know. But to this day I lack in that department and am not good at small talk with strangers. I do the wave and smile thing a lot.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little strange too. I lie. Not pathologically. But like when I'm woken by the phone at say... noon and I've been a lazy girl who went back to bed after taking the kiddo to school and I'm asleep... I'll clear my throat and answer the phone in a sing-songy voice to cover the dead giveaway of a just woke up, creaky voice... then lie that I was just doing something fabulously domestic like folding laundry or putting away dishes or watering the plants. Then I cringe when I get caught by someone who knows me too well and they accuse me, "Did I just wake you up?" I'm a bad liar.
ReplyDeleteThings I avoid doing...
ReplyDelete..like driving a specific route so as to NOT have to make a left turn across traffic?
..or not calling the parents for weeks on end because it is too much of a hassle to deal with them?
..refusing to shop for WIC at the commissary because they treat you like crap?
oh, yeah, I can identify!
How come I have never found your blog before? I found you through Flea.
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I'm the person you probably want to avoid... ;-)
HEE!
Yes, I have detoured to avoid talking to people I know. I feel kind of bad doing it sometimes, but it's usually when I am in a hurry and don't want to be bothered with talking about whatever. I know, I'm bad, but oh well.
ReplyDeletehehehe, this was such a fun post. yes! i have done some of these things. sometimes when i see a familiar face, if i really don't feel like talking with them right now, i will change my route a little.
ReplyDeleteif i am alone and waiting at a restaurant, i pull out my pocket computer and read/write email or read blogs.
i almost never delete a comment that i wrote. i go with the gut response and practically never edit.
thanks for the fun post :)
we all have little things about us that just make us neater ... we CHOOSE to do something or not to do it. if we don't feel like being with someone right now, we don't have to be :)
i love this about email/blogs, too ... how we pop in and out whenever we feel like it.
love the blogosphere.
okay, i'm outa here. i had fun checking out some more of your bloggy tonight.
peace, kathleen