Can you say chicken?
Sometimes I wonder if I really have any social skills whatsoever. I was supposed to attend my first Cincinnati Knitting Group morning meeting today. I left a post on the board about how excited I was to finally have a morning meeting. I RSVP’d “yes”, I would be attending. I even drove to the Coffee Emporium in Hyde Park, half an hour from my home and parked. Wearing my first jeans of fall (just so I could wear a pair of hand knitted socks with clogs that would just barely show if I sat so as not to draw obvious attention to my knittiness but to allow for a conversation starter after sitting, crossing my legs and inevitably dangling my shoe from the toe of my crazy socked foot…even Loki and Bodhi thought this was a good idea) 
I made my way to the door with my knitting bag in tow, half an hour late (more on that later). On my way to the front door, I spotted 8 knitters happily chatting/knitting/caffeinating away. So what did I do? I glanced their way then hurried inside to buy some :java:. While waiting in line, I managed to convince myself that since a) there was no more room at the table, b) I was late c) I had never attended one of their meetings yet and d) did not see my “security blanket” Julie (she qualifies as a “security blanket” because I’ve met her ONCE and in my world, that constitutes a less scary social situation) that I should haul my sorry, late, socially inept self right back into the car…which I promptly did. In an effort to console myself, I made my way to Fiber Naturell in Kenwood. I don’t go there very often since it is quite a bit out of the way, but since I was already somewhat near (and they are one of the only shops in the area that almost always has SOMETHING on sale) I decided to go. 
I’m glad I went because they had something I actually “need”…size 35 circular needles I was about to order in stock. Although they aren’t quite as lovely as these handmade needles I planned to purchase, they were much needed instant gratification. Oh, and I also found some yarn (BIG SURPRISE). Several skeins of fall colored wool (except the nice lilac which will go well with the wool I got at the wool gathering) for felted bags at 25% off!!! Major score. I immediately began to feel much better although still disappointed in my social incompetence.
Oh, so why was I a half an hour late? While we were in Palm Springs (nope…still haven’t gotten around to that post…underwear to wash, dogs to play with, yarn to knit, etc) a delivery from a California wine club was attempted three times. Fed Ex won’t try any more after that and I was lucky that they hadn’t sent the package back yet. New Fed Ex facility is great for them, sucks for me. I had to schlep down to the Mt. Zion road exit in Northern Kentucky to pick up my wine…um just realizing here that this really doesn’t sound worthy of pity at all…”oh while I was on vacation my wine couldn’t be delivered” BOOfreaking(I like to try to keep my blog somewhat G rated despite my fondness of the “f” word…I am right up there with Samantha at times)HOO, right? Anyway, since I had to wait around half an hour for them to find the package, it DID make me late for my fiber fix, which I’m sure must be worthy of sympathy.
11 comments
I will be sympthetic for you even though the fact that you even have a knitting group and you got to go on a vacation should keep me from it! Just kidding!
I know all about social anxiety, that’s what it is, social anxiety, I used to never have it, I was as out going as they come but it seems the older I get the more nervous I get in situations like that. Fortunately (I really mean unfortunately) I’m very rarely in situations anymore to get social anxiety or else I would probably go the highly medicated route. LOL Just kidding. You’ll make it next time, sometimes you just need a little push. Push..push…
Awwww, Cheryl…that totally sounds like something I would do….
I know these kind of situations and I probably would have had the urge to leave too. My own anxiety comes in waves. Sometimes I have no problem(ok, say less) for events like that and sometime more.
What helps me is a bit of self-esteem boost right before the event(mirror talking :wink:) or pretending I know the people already. Not that it always helps…
I would have done the same but then again, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to go there even though it’s only ~3 miles from my house.
I did a similar thing the first time I tried to go to SnB. Except that I didn’t see them in front, so I took a quick look around and left. They were probably in the back, but I was too nervous to look too hard. But then I went the next time and everyone was very nice. It’s a good thing to do, even if you don’t end up going all the time (like me! Keep meaning to, really.)
I *almost* did that this past Monday night when the local group met at Barnes & Noble. Instead I just argued with myself while pretending to browse nearby books (out of their sight, of course) and ended up joining them. I’m not very “social” but my husband was so proud of me for actually attending.
:knitting:I truly understand I did the same thing at a quilting quild meeting because my friend Becky was not there, so don’t feel too bad.:knit:
[...] Once the scarf was finished, I didn’t quite have the stomach to frog the dog sweater yet. So I continued to work on Jim’s sweater. I haven’t mentioned that one yet…remember the chicken post? Well, I cast this sweater on the night before so I’d have something mindless to work on at the meeting (K2, P2 rib). I didn’t pick it up again until this weekend and I have been working on it each night as we watch DVR’d CSI, Gilmore Girls, etc. [...]
[...] Diva Knitting: [...]
[...] Anonymous: Diva Knitting [...]
GOTCHA!
I was surfing the net whilst on a search for something else and came across your post. For those who don’t know, I’m the coordinator for the Cincinnati Knitting Group. I’m very sad to hear that you didn’t want to join us for the meeting - it’s VERY informal and half of the people come late anyway. Timeliness isn’t so important unless you want to learn from the lesson a teacher presents. The whole point of meeting up is to have FUN, maybe learn something, get a few minutes to work uninterrupted on a current project and if you don’t have fun then why get together?
I have to admit I was a bit disappointed when I didn’t get to meet you because I was looking forward to meeting a member I’d spoken with on the board but never seen before! I admit felt a little bit like you that time because there was only one other person there that I knew at the start, but you just paste on a smile and be militantly positive - you know, have a KNITTING DIVA attitude. I have to do it all the time as the group’s fearless leader. I guess the best way to sum up the chicken feelings at ANY time is attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt - “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” - basically, who has the right to be in your head and tell you you’re nothing short of fantastic? So, suck in those feelings and say hi next time, no excuses! P. S. You’re most likely to catch me at one of the nighttime meetings but I’ll do my best to be at the morning ones as well as long as my schedule permits.
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