Posts Tagged "friendships"
A real life photo-bomb
A few weeks ago I had dinner with some friends. I was especially looking forward to this dinner because I had just started the new job and finally felt as if I could actually contribute to the conversation besides nodding along in agreement to most of what is being said and offering my friends’ experiences with things. I could talk about the interview, how I was nearly late for the second one and ran 3 blocks from CalTrain in a desperate attempt to make it there in time. IN HEELS! And I could talk about what I do at work! I had material and lots of it. This was going to be my moment to shine!
So imagine my utter disappointment when I showed up only to be outshone by a baby and a pregnancy announcement.
Ego. Deflated.
My moment in the sun? Gone. It seemed awkward to bring up my job so I waited for someone else to. Then I’d jump into my spiel and just as suddenly the conversation veered back to the babies.
How can I fight a baby? I can’t win that battle!
Then, towards the end of the evening, we briefly discussed my future pending wedding and while I was talking to them, I just felt silly about talking about this wedding as if it were actually happening when we don’t even know ourselves. The whole evening was a conversational disaster.
On my way home, while I wasn’t raging against the poorly lit back roads and equally poorly identified houses (seriously, this is a pet peeve of mine. I hate it when I can’t see building address numbers clearly from the street and have to act like a clairvoyant to find out which house it which. PUT IN SOME STREET LIGHTS AND NUMBERS ON THE GARAGE! Ahem.) I couldn’t help but think about how behind I still am compared to this group of friends and wonder if I would ever catch up. Or if there would always be something else diverting the attention from me. I know I told myself that I really needed to stop measuring myself against everyone else and I’m aware of the fact that I sound completely self-centered for being upset about not being the center of attention for a moment but I all I wanted to do was share my amazing news and get the attention I always give to other people during their moment.
Basically, I feel shafted. It’s stupid, I know, but I can’t help but feel justified. After two years of not having much to discuss and feeling pretty lousy because of it, this little tidbit of progress was finally my chance to bring something to the table of some worth, to share with friends and have people be excited as I have been for them. And it totally did not work out like that.
I will say that, during the dinner, we did have a couple of smaller, side conversations where I got to jabber on about my new job and I really appreciate that chance. I guess I’ll just have to remember that no one ever really cares about anything that happens in your life more than you.
Duly noted.
Read MoreFriends who eat together, stay together
Last night I had the pleasure of hanging out with the Firelady and the Baker, also known as the Patron Saint of Desserts [because seriously, his desserts are like little slices of heaven]. They invited me over for some pizza and general tomfoolery. Because that’s how we roll.
I think I’ve said the same thing every time I talk about having dinner with them; that they’re freakin’ awesome. You hear that Firelady? Cuz I’m sure you’re checking this out. You and the Baker? Awesome.
But the night really was that great. I love just talking to them about nothing in particular and everything under the sun. Our conversations range from every conceivable topic known to man from the Bible to politics to using Twitter to quoting Finding Forrester and Sixteen Candles.
Because you’re the man now, dog! Sheesh!
I’m also really excited to spend time with them because I find them to be completely fascinating. Between their respective careers, their families, the adventures they go on either together or separately and just their general rapport with one another, I’m just completely enthralled. I know there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship and that they go through their own ups and downs just like everyone else but still, I so have a crush on both of them. They always make me feel so loved and welcomed, even when I’m afraid of having worn out my welcome as I sit languishing on their dangerously comfortable couch several hours after dinner.
They’re simply those kind of people. The ones that make everyone feel incredibly special and are excited to see you [even when they're NOT excited to see you]. The ones you’d trust your soul with because you know they would look out for you and tell you when you’re wrong, in the nicest way possible that will totally get their point across. They simply want the best for you. Don’t we need more people like this in our lives? I think so.
If I could choose, I’d totally have them as my Aunt and Uncle but you know, I’m incredibly blessed to have them as my true friends.
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