Monday, May 02, 2011

Me? A Social Butterfly? A People Person?

It’s funny, because when most people first meet me they automatically assume I’m a social butterfly and a people person.

NOT!

Wait.….allow me to be more specific and say that I prefer being social in small dosages and in small groups. And I love people as long as they don’t get on my nerves - which is like saying I won’t scratch myself having a bad case of poison ivy - it’s impossible.

However, I do know how to put on a happy face and PRETEND to be social. And PRETEND to be a people person. When I have to for work.

I have a B.S. college degree in fine arts.

It’s called BULL SHITTING.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and prefer being around the public rather than having an office job because it forces me to be with people.

I like to TORTURE myself.

I had a very social five days at work this past week. And when I say social, I mean we had several special mega-events that involved being around a lot of people; requiring me to be talkative, patient, congenial, and ON for eight hours a day.

By the end of the week my vocal cords were raw, my facial muscles were in agony from the permanent smile I had on my face, and if I had to say, “Hello…may I help you” to one more person with an iPod or a cell phone stuck in their ears, I was going to throw myself in front of a speeding sanitation truck.

When I left work on Saturday night, I was exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to go home, take a nice hot shower, eat some dinner, watch a movie, and not TALK to anyone for two days.

And to make matters worse, the city of Philadelphia was having a HUGE outside festival two blocks from where I live. Therefore, I had to use a tube of KY Jelly to squeeze myself through the one million happy-to-be-drunk people, crowding every inch of the street and pavement.

Upon retiring to bed that night, I unplugged my phone and didn’t even set my alarm clock because I wanted to wake up whenever. I spent Sunday like a hermit inside my apartment. I went out only once to get a few things at the convenient store; wearing a baseball cap and pair of dark sunglasses, so I wouldn’t have to make eye contact and SPEAK.

I think I’ve had enough socializing this past week to last me the rest of the year.

So, whenever anyone assumes I’m a social butterfly and a people person, I have to giggle.

I want to say, “Oh yeah…I’m definitely a social butterfly and a people person.”

I ADORE people with all my heart….

Don’t worry, I’ll be more of a social butterfly and a people person by tomorrow.

Hopefully.