I grew up in a fairly small family with few extended family members, plus with my dad being military we moved every couple of years and didn't live near relatives for many years. I always envied the big Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings on TV and wanted to join these big get-together's at Grandma's house with all the cousins and aunts and uncles bearing gifts. It wasn't until I experienced one of these that I realized how much I enjoyed the solitude of my nuclear family. Our group of 4 lived in a good sized house and we all had our separate corners to retreat. Perfect for introverts like me and my mom. My dad was more social and my brother maybe somewhere in between.
I've always been most happy with a book. For Christmas this year, I got a sweatshirt and bumper sticker that read: Some of my best friends are fictional characters. Yup, totally true. I have to make a conscious effort to establish real life friendships. I think I'm fairly friendly and likeable but being social doesn't come naturally for me. I'm not good at small talk or chit chat. I'm a "get to the point" person and can sometimes be blunt. Phone calls are torture for me. I've heard many times over the years "I thought you were a bitch until I got to know you!" Umm, thanks? I can't help it that I've got Resting Bitch Face. My natural countenance is unsmiling but I'm far from mean. I really do treasure my friends and social contact with my co-workers.
Prince Eric is a very social creature and loves to have parties and meet new people. Luckily, he understands that this is painfully awkward for me and I'm glad he's there to bring me out of my shell a little. So, the next time you see someone at a party who looks like there being tortured, go over and say hi (because they're not going to come over to you). You might meet a new friend. Or if not, at least you can complain "jeez, who invited the bitch in the corner?"
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