borderline drunk - the perfect combination between tipsy and tipping over sideways, the best thing that you can do is network. But if you network, arrange a gettaway car to pick you up on the hour or you might stare into the eyes of some tall, dark handsome stranger for a little too long when your tall, dark handsome stranger awaits you in your gettaway car. But write about it. Write about the time that you were brave enought to network with random strangers, the time that you didn't let your social anxiety get the best of you. The time that you downed a beer and told strangers about your life without the awkward pauses, instead with the smile that radiates from the gender-neutral bathroom mirror (holy urinal!) when you've had two kiltlifters on an empty stomach. (which, btw, is that smile, that wink-and-point "you're looking good kid" when you know that it's past time to go home.)
And then, late in the happy hour, folks show up who don't drink. Who are these people, sipping water, and what do they want with me and my smile and my leaning in and my arm resting on their arm, comforting, the perfect combinbation of listening and tipsy and I've-never-cared-about-anything-in-the-world-more-than-your-nonprofit-lifestyle.
My carriage awaits. It's good to have a rescue, a stratch-your-nose-it's-time-to-go-buddy sitting across the table. And even better: prince charming, pulling up in your shared chariot.
We live big, brave lives in 930 square feet. For shy people, I am brave, sometimes, and I am so brave with two beers. I could take on the world, sometimes. I swear.
This is what being an adult it all about, right?
I have to remind myself everyday that saying "yes" to the opportunities that come my way is always a better option than staying alone at home doing nothing of consequence. It's nice to connect with people. I chatted with a guy the other day at Primanti Bros who just happened to mention in passing that he was in from Phoenix! I was exhausted and frustrated from driving in, and feeling extremely lonely having no one to hang in P-burgh with, but just this simple, casual conversation with a fellow Primanti-lover changed my whole outlook on that day and probably the rest of the weekend. I talked to a complete stranger about how Phoenix and Pittsburgh have changed over the last few decades and about having a job that requires silly travel--and I didn't have a sip of alcohol, just a big-ass delicious fucking sandwich.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you have someone to come home to, so even when you don't do anything, you're still sharing that time with someone. It's weird for me to think that it would take a few days for anyone to know if I never came home or if I never left...
Ahh, Alice! Primanti Bros conversations are the best. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm always surprised at how much I can enjoy networking with a drink, as long as I can get over that initial social anxiety hump.