I don’t do well with some kind of surprises. They make me feel anxious and self-conscious and a little panicky. Something to do with loss of control, I’m sure, and the fact that I’m kind shy and very much a homebody. No matter how confident and outgoing I’ve tried to be, surprises nearly always make me withdraw into my shell.
Surprise visitors are one of my biggest pet peeves ever. I adore playing hostess, but I prefer to have an hour or two advance warning. At the very least. In an ideal world, I’d have at a week to prepare myself every time someone was coming over. I’m afraid I’ve been less than hospitable (read: kind of snotty) to people I really enjoy just because they stopped by unexpectedly.
It also means that I’m not a fan of surprised–and usually forced–socializing. If I’m expecting to have a lovely relaxing evening at home with David, and suddenly we have to go do something for work or church or family or whatever, I tend to get a little pouty. Ok, sometimes more than a little. Because I both have to socialize and pretend to be happy about it, which I’m not. Because you changed my plans, dangit, and boring as those plans might have been I was still looking forward to them.
Surprise parties? TERRIBLE idea. It’s like the perfect storm of unexpected company, unexpected socializing, and finding myself in the spotlight (another thing that makes me extremely uncomfortable). If you love me, do not ever throw me a surprise party. I will probably be mad at you for weeks, and neither of us wants that.
All this said, I do like some surprises. The kind that impose on nobody, are genuinely unexpected and unrelated to any sort of occasion or special event, and are usually small but totally make your day. Like, surprise! You bought chocolate milk for me when you went to the grocery store today! Or, surprise! I found $20 in the pocket of my coat! Or, surprise! I got real mail and it’s not a bill or a preapproval for a credit card! (Side note: Emily, thanks for sending that little name book. HI-larious!)
Anyway, all this is just so I can tell you that I have a fun surprise for David. One of the good kind, of course. And I will share it will you guys as soon as I can. Yay!
And no, it’s not a lolcat. Or any other kind of cat. Sorry to disappoint.
Another reason we are friends. Social surprises are induce panic attacks.
Haha! I'm glad it made it safe. Classic, huh? Brad and I got some good laughs out of it. Have fun tomorrow! Love you!
Lydia: Indeed. Glad I'm not the only one.
Em: Right back atcha, girl!