Thursday Night Rendezvous
I was as nervous as a schoolgirl meeting a boy at the movie theater for the first time…
Was I ready? What impression would I make? Did I look all right?
Boy #1 knew just what to say to put my mind at ease.
“Mom, what’s that on your forehead?”
“I know, I’ve got prepubescent acne! Get off my back!” I barked before heading out the door, now more self-conscious than ever.
As I got to the minivan, I cringed when I opened the door. McDonald’s Chicken Nugget boxes. Powerade bottles. Trampled coloring books. Broken crayons. A tackle box (I hoped there weren’t dead night crawlers inside). A box of Tampax showing through the semi-transparent Wal-Mart sack. Crumbs and smashed fruit snacks on the leather seat where Boy #3’s car seat had been.
I just hoped she wouldn’t look inside.
What was I going to say? I knew I wasn’t as funny in person. What if I got tongue-tied, as I sometimes do, or my mouth took off ahead of my brain?
Would she still want to be my friend?
I rang her doorbell, and a friendly face I recognized from her videos greeted me. She was flanked by the cutest 3-year-old who immediately asked me, “Want to see my fish?” I was smitten.
I relaxed as I sat on the couch and chatted with Jody, my new (dare-I-say) friend. She had won my scrapbook contest and I wanted to buy some of her IKEA organizers, and since she lives only a couple miles away, we finally got the chance to rendezvous.
Jody? Easy to talk to. Friendly. Laid-back. Cute in that “I don’t have to get all dolled up to look cute” way that makes me a teensy bit jealous. Honest. Real.
Doug? Friendly. Funny. Hardworking. Smart. Techy. Real too.
Brenna? Sweet. Eager. Adorable. Funny. Likes to share her “stuff”. Smart.
Caelan? Bright-eyed. Amazingly verbal. Cutie-patootie. Smart.
I even got to meet the pets—including the ones they have temporary custody of.
Toby? Big. Friendly eyes. Laid-back.
Zeus? Teeny-tiny. Big dog trapped in a little dog body. Curious. Quite a yipper.
I loved that, although her house was way cleaner than mine, she DID have a few things on her counters, and there were a couple toys in the living room.
I loved that she had to tell her girls, “Quit jumping on the couch!”
I loved that she just curled up on the couch and visited with me.
I loved how Doug said he was too lazy to move the garage-sale items hanging on the exercise equipment so he just skipped working out.
I loved that they were just what I thought they would be. That their blog-o-life accurately reflects their actual life. That what I “saw” was what I “got.”
How sad is it that I’m 36 years old and still feel the same desperate need for friendship that I did in the 7th grade? I know I should just be thankful for my wonderful family and my awesome sisters and not care if I have someone to run to Starbucks with after the kids go to bed. And I AM thankful.
But still…
…I hope she liked me.
How fun you got to meet her IRL. I’d love to meet her too. Never mind we live 1,000 miles apart. But I grew up in Iowa, so I think that counts for something. I’ve met several bloggers IRL, and each and every one is just like they seem on their blogs – only a little sweeter.
Hey, Jillian, thanks for leaving a comment! It makes my day to meet a new bloggy friend! So cool that you’ve gotten to meet several bloggers IRL! Maybe WE’LL even get to meet someday! (Especially if you live 1000 miles away…I’m thinking–vacation! 🙂
Paula
Yes, Jody is very nice. Funny, I get nervous when I first meet people too. I was hoping on some of those IKEA organizers so I hope you left some. 🙂
I’m a little further away, but would LOVE to meet!!!!
So glad you guys had a nice visit!!
I’ve met email loop friends IRL (we met during our Sept 98 pregnancies), 3 of them actually, but never any blogger friends.
“She thinks I’m cute!” (OK, you have to do that in the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer voice to really make it work.) You are too kind because I looked like crap last night.
I prefer people who mouths work faster than their brains (as I am one). Besides, it gives you things to hash over and over in your head later.
If it makes you feel any better I was nervous, too. Making “girl” friends isn’t easy for me.
Let’s plan lunch soon- BBQ chicken nachos and donut holes at Bandanas.
I get the same way when I meet people. And yes, when I met Jody a few weeks ago I was too!!
So glad that you had a good time!!!
Thank God I’m not the only one who’s socially awkward! You guys always know the right thing to say!
And Jody, LOVE the Rudolph reference! It’s one of my most favoritest Christmas specials! 🙂 BBQ Chicken Nachos and Donut Holes? Oh, most definitely!
I understand your being nervous. I think it’s harder to make friends as adults than it was as kids, to be honest. Since graduating college, I didn’t have very many female friends and then ones I have had were all quite a bit older than me. Wonder why that is. Anyway, glad you had such a grand time–good for you!
Glad u got to meet her. She seems like such a nice person. We seriously to have a get-together for all the “Des Moines area bloggers”!!!!
And you’re totally not alone in the “finding a friend” department, either. I’m 35, and have a harder time meeting people than I did when I was younger. Most of my friends end up being the parents of my kids’ friends.
Ok, it’s official. When can all the Des Moines (and area) bloggers meet? 🙂 I’m about 50 miles east, but would LOVE to meet some new people and make new friends.
OK…I’ll get the ball rolling on a DM-area get-together…Anyone have any ideas??? New friends–it’s too good to be true! 🙂
I was thinking about this last night. Well, actually I was thinking about an Iowa Moms gathering. Not so huge as BlogHer- yet… I say we take over a hotel with a spa…
Isn’t it wierd that we all revert to 12 when it come to making friends. I get butterflies in my stomache everytime I meet some one new. Hoping they will like me. It seems so much harder to make new friends now that I am grown up. I miss girlfriend time.