Meeting new-ish people scares me.
Tomorrow (or perhaps, by the time you read this, today) I am headed downtown to meet up with some local bloggers and Twitter peeps. Because I was invited and because it is my birthday weekend and I feel less guilty about doing things for me when it is my birthday.
AHHH!!!
This freaks me out and makes me all nervous. Like, take-a-Gaviscon-it’s-a-first-date nervous.
It’s weird, too, because I read the blogs of many of these people. They read mine. We have conversations on Twitter. We share advice and stories. I feel like I know many of them and like they know me.
And yet, what if they don’t like me? What if I have some weird twitch I don’t know about? What if I have the annoying laugh? What if I laugh at the joke that isn’t funny? Or don’t laugh at the one that is? What if I say the wrong thing? What if I fall flat on my face walking into the restaurant and I just cannot recover from the embarrassment!!?!? What if I burp and it smells?
It used to be easier to make new friends when I didn’t worry so much about making new friends.
When I was younger, my mom always said I “never met a stranger.” I’d talk to anyone. Didn’t matter who or where. And even now I’m way comfortable cold-calling people.
Parents? Not a problem.
Business contacts for fundraising? Not a problem.
People I sort-of-know-but-not-really? YIKES!
(And yet I Skyped Katie with a pore-clarifying mask on my face and my hair in a bun. WTF?!)
I’ve often said that as I’ve gotten older, the ability to make connections with new people grows smaller and smaller. It’s harder and harder to mix into existing social circles. It’s just hard to make new friends.
And yet? I want to make new friends. I thrive on being social. On meeting people. On making connections.
I think it’s why I love Twitter so much.
So, y’all think kindly of me tomorrow (or perhaps, by the time you read this, today) and pray that I don’t embarrass myself and that these people like me and don’t think I’m crazy.
Okay?
Thanks. A million.
mummy@bodfortea
Sunday 13th of March 2011
Oooo hope it all went well! Do a follow-up post! :D
Sherri
Sunday 13th of March 2011
Oh, I hope you had an awesome time! And you skyped? That right there scares the crap out of me!
I went to brunch last fall with some fellow bloggers I'd never met IRL and it was awesome...nerve-wracking, too, but fun!
Jana A
Saturday 12th of March 2011
Oh this is cute! You're so cute and tick free and laughed at ALL the right jokes. Even laughed at some that weren't really funny probably! I had a blast meeting y'all. We have NO excuse for not seeing each other more often.
Katie
Saturday 12th of March 2011
You were cute with the mask and then today you were cute without it!
But seriously? I am all sucky at that too. As I proved by being awkward and ridiculous when we skyped. Pauses make me sweat. Am I supposed to say something? But I know if I just fill space I will say something so dumb. AHHHHH!!!!
This is why even though I am PUMPED about going to BlogHer? My feet sweat when I think about it.
pinkflipflops
Saturday 12th of March 2011
I can completely relate. I suck at small talk and it just makes me feel so awkward. But then I complain that I have no friends left in the area.. I really need to work on that. I am hoping having a kid gives me a prop to talk to others.