You know how you’re supposed to deal with an awkward social situation? You know, keep calm, state your case rationally and clearly, and then politely request a change of subject?
Well, apparently, tonight I was incapable, and made a complete tit of myself in front of about 15 Sydney knitters – a lot of whom I have never met before. Unfortunately though, some of them know where I live.
So, if you were there, and you were wondering why I was such an arse, I can only apologise and explain that I’ve still got this damn headcold, and that I don’t handle death very well. Apparently I’m overly emotional and fragile right now, and I should have explained that instead of growling at people.
I know that my moral compass is wired differently to other peoples, and that makes it my responsibility to navigate my way around dangerous waters, not start lobbing dynamite when things get interesting.
Most people don’t realise that I’m really socially awkward. That I never had a real friend until I was almost in high school (thanks Andrew), and that I still feel like people are only nice to me out of pity. I know that I have some good points, but when I’m sick, and life gets tricky, and somebody pokes at a sore spot, I regress to that little kid that nobody wanted to sit next to at playlunch.
Crazy Aunt Purl wrote a great post today. About how she used to react to triggers, and how she is living without her old crutches, and how she misses them, and knows they may not be gone for good, but that she knows she can live without them.
Maybe I can learn something.
Disco Knitter 
Lara, I’ve only met you once, but I’m proud to call you a friend!
LikeLike
My dear woman, I have never felt pity for you. Well, except when you broke your foot. I am nice to you because I like you. And that’s the last I will say on that subject.
LikeLike
We all have our prickly days! I usually find that while I obsess about my quite frequent faux pas, others never give them a second thought. Hope this helps!
LikeLike
Pity? That just doesn’t come into it. You just have to learn that people are nice to you because you’re nice.
And I’m so sorry to hear about your cousin and your poor aunt. I think people will understand that you’re entitled to be a little ‘prickly’ today.
LikeLike
I lived in Sydney for 2 years before I got any friends… And I’m glad you are one of them. Wish I was hanging around a bit longer, but I’m glad you have the blog so I can keep uptodate with all your goingons.
LikeLike
As a fellow Faux-pas person I can completely commiserate – I bet it was an interesting experience for all and if it’s the group I think it is it may have introduced a bit of pep to the conversation. I prefer to think of you as feisty rather than a complete tit.
LikeLike
Thanks everyone. I had a bad day, and I should know better than to lob in to an unfamiliar Sn’B at a time when kleenex commercials make me cry.
I know I have a great bunch of friends now, and they aren’t the sort to hand out attention as a consolation prize.
I think most people know about my sensitivity to talk of rabbit eating, but I can’t expect perfect strangers to understand, or tiptoe around me. On any other day I might (I hope) have been more charming about it.
Thanks.
LikeLike