Daily Archives: May 23, 2004

My comfort zone ended
At the front door.
I knew at once
That I had chosen my dress
Poorly.

Blue jeans
Would be right
For a backyard barbecue
But all wrong
For this milling group
Of the higher class
Each with their drink in hand
Making small talk.

Me with my blank head
Thinking
Of nothing at all to say.
Sipping my one glass
Of fine white wine
That has unpleasantly
Warmed.

Feeling like a trapped and
Frightened mouse,
In a house of poised
And entertaining cats
Who seem convinced
The answer to my quietness
Would be
Another drink.

O! God
I’m so out of place!
All this
And no mouse hole
For escape.

It was a very difficult weekend for me.  Friday evening and Saturday morning we spent with some great friends – down to earth and fun.  But Saturday evening!!!  I impressed no one – especially myself with my awkwardness.  I wish – well I wish a lot of things that are not likely to come to pass.  Like that I would suddenly become gifted at small talk.  That I would come out with some charming thing to say that would make them realize that I am perfectly fine with one glass of wine even if it takes all night for me to drink it and to be perfectly honest –  if I am really thirsty – wine or beer is not what I would choose to slake my thirst. 

The highlight of the evening was Leo arguing with a very self absorbed woman about the merits of treating addictions without locking up the young people for a forced change of lifestyle.  And then she came out with the statement that “wouldn’t it be much better if we could live in a drug free society” – as in all drugs for all illnesses.  Not so sure about that since I would have died as a child.  It would be even nicer to live in an illness free society in my opinion.  Including mental illness – which I felt a bit like I was suffering from myself about then.

It is good for so many reasons to be back home.