My household went out to celebrate one of my housemates' birthdays, and some drinking was involved, and I came home early with another of my housemates, since we were taking the bus, and the others were going by car. We arrived home first, and a little while later, our housemates returned, one of them in tears. She was with two of her friends and they surrounded her with a group hug, while birthday girl tried to console her but being equally drunk said the wrong things, and we all gathered 'round and listened to why she felt like her heart was breaking.
I was sitting on the steps, and they were all sitting on the living room couch. The crying continued even after she'd finished her story, and the guy-bashing (of course it was a man's fault) began. The situation however, remained tense and no watery chuckles were forthcoming, despite several attempts at jokes.
Feeling a bit sleepy, however, my attention was wandering... and landed on a spider creeping up the banister. A big creepy spider. So I crossed the room and picked up a shoe (I hesitated there, I really wanted to pick whichever shoe was closest, but I finally decided on my own...) walked back to the steps, stared intently at the banister to relocate the spider... and er, disposed of the spider. Then settled back onto the step, at which point I realized that the crying had stopped, the consoling had stopped, and the half-drunken rambling had stopped... because everyone was staring at me in shock, wondering why I'd just walked around the room with a shoe... Well... at least it broke the tension, right? Laughter broke out, and the conversation flowed, starting at spider phobias and moving right on to normal girl-talk. So bad-timing can be good-timing in a way!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Errr... Actually....
Yay it's that time of the year! For Christmas shopping.. and discovering new routes to awkward moments apparently. So, I'd managed to find one gift that I was looking for, and because I was feeling lazy about seeking out and buying wrapping paper, I decided to support a good cause and use the services of the charity gift wrappers at the mall. Having been one of the volunteers last year, I especially felt like I should contribute in some way, since I didn't volunteer this year.
Anyhow, my gift-wrapper was a kind old lady, with a great sense of humour, and a really soft heart. She whispered conspiratorially that she'd give me a discount (don't worry I still paid the full amount - it was for charity!!!). But anyhow, my story's point is that we were talking and one of the other volunteers said she was going out for a smoke, and my gift-wrapper said "You'll get cancer like that," and the other volunteer replied "already had it - in the throat." At which point my gift wrapper shook her head and then told me that she herself had cancer, and that the third volunteer, an elderly gentleman, also had had cancer, and she just couldn't understand why people kept smoking (in general, and especially after being diagnosed with cancer). She then mentioned her friend whom is a doctor and smokes, and his wife who's a nurse, and that they'd all had cancer, and she just hated the way they were using up resources, taking up spots where people who actually were trying to get better (i.e., not smoking) could have been.
So my mind wandered as she told the story, to my own deceased grandfather, who died of lung cancer and smoked just about up until the day he died. I stood there shuffling my feet, trying to hide my sinking mood and warring emotions over whether I agreed with the lady or not. I nodded along and fought the urge to tell her my own grandfather had been that way. I resisted that temptation, for it served no purpose, other than to smash another's cheer. Instead I nodded along thoughtfully, thanked her kindly when she was finished, and left.
She meant no harm of course, and she had a point, that I may even agree with. I was even angry at my grandfather at the time... but nevertheless... one should always be careful about one criticizes in front of others, for you never know what it means to them...
Anyhow, my gift-wrapper was a kind old lady, with a great sense of humour, and a really soft heart. She whispered conspiratorially that she'd give me a discount (don't worry I still paid the full amount - it was for charity!!!). But anyhow, my story's point is that we were talking and one of the other volunteers said she was going out for a smoke, and my gift-wrapper said "You'll get cancer like that," and the other volunteer replied "already had it - in the throat." At which point my gift wrapper shook her head and then told me that she herself had cancer, and that the third volunteer, an elderly gentleman, also had had cancer, and she just couldn't understand why people kept smoking (in general, and especially after being diagnosed with cancer). She then mentioned her friend whom is a doctor and smokes, and his wife who's a nurse, and that they'd all had cancer, and she just hated the way they were using up resources, taking up spots where people who actually were trying to get better (i.e., not smoking) could have been.
So my mind wandered as she told the story, to my own deceased grandfather, who died of lung cancer and smoked just about up until the day he died. I stood there shuffling my feet, trying to hide my sinking mood and warring emotions over whether I agreed with the lady or not. I nodded along and fought the urge to tell her my own grandfather had been that way. I resisted that temptation, for it served no purpose, other than to smash another's cheer. Instead I nodded along thoughtfully, thanked her kindly when she was finished, and left.
She meant no harm of course, and she had a point, that I may even agree with. I was even angry at my grandfather at the time... but nevertheless... one should always be careful about one criticizes in front of others, for you never know what it means to them...
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Badly-Timed Reunions
Once upon a time, long, long ago... I was running an errand with my sister (and actually by long ago I mean a few years, maybe), picking up a few supplies. While at the store, my sister and I got separated for a moment, and I ran into (almost literally) an old classmate (who was working there) whom I hadn't seen in at least a few years and may or may not have had a crush on in the past... and who may or may not have grown a lot in those few years... in a cute and awesome way... Anyhow - my point! - I was shocked. Such moments should NOT be thrust upon you out of the blue! Did I also mention that it was a really humid day? My hair + humidity = #&%(@* . If that doesn't give you a nice picture, please also remember that this was supposed to be a quick errand so I was wearing the comfies that are barely fit for the public eye, and therefore not the most flattering...
So, the meeting kind of went like this:
Guy: "Hey! How's it going!"
Me: *turning red* "uhh, great!" *face is burning* uhhhh *gives up and runs away*
- and into my sister in the next aisle... who then had to comment on the fact that I was extremely red. And still likes to point it out once in a while to this day... "Ooh we're going to that store - what if you run into him again?" Sisters are evil creatures.
So, Moral of the Story - always expect the unexpected! Now I know why some girls won't leave the house without perfect hair and make-up! Oh, and if you've already embarrassed yourself that much - try to say more than "uhh" before running away! Yup, lesson learned!... Maybe...
So, the meeting kind of went like this:
Guy: "Hey! How's it going!"
Me: *turning red* "uhh, great!" *face is burning* uhhhh *gives up and runs away*
- and into my sister in the next aisle... who then had to comment on the fact that I was extremely red. And still likes to point it out once in a while to this day... "Ooh we're going to that store - what if you run into him again?" Sisters are evil creatures.
So, Moral of the Story - always expect the unexpected! Now I know why some girls won't leave the house without perfect hair and make-up! Oh, and if you've already embarrassed yourself that much - try to say more than "uhh" before running away! Yup, lesson learned!... Maybe...
Caught Staring
Eye contact is good. I like making eye contact with people. Especially when I'm listening to them, or talking to them. However... I have this thing about forgetting people's names, and where I know them from. So I have this really awkward habit of staring at them while trying to place them. Staring alone is fine... if you can avoid being caught. Today was the second time in the space of a semester that I was caught. I swear I'm not a creeper! Really! Both times, it happened to be a member of the opposite sex who caught me. And they had no trouble placing me at all (although they didn't know my name at least, I hope...), as they would give a friendly wave. And I'd make a jerky movement as if to wave then suddenly freeze - wait! What if they're not waving at me! What if they're waving at someone behind me! And they now think I'm a freak for trying to wave back - but what if it really was me they were waving to and now they think I'm rude and - that's when I give a quick smile and look around as though I was actually smiling at someone else just in case, and therefore staring at someone else... creeping someone else... Next step is to fade into the landscape...Yup, to sum it up - awkward! And to all you people who can confidently wave back and smile sexily... well good for you... consider me officially jealous of you.
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