They were not mean

Everyone is shy to some degree. I had an ex who refused to go to a party where she didn't know nearly all of the people there. I will go to gatherings where I don't know many people--or any--but I do get nervous about it.

I was encouraged to contact a local knitter/designer who holds a monthly Lesbian knitting night. I had actually met her before at a trade show, but it was a while ago. And I suspected (and was right) that I wouldn't know anyone there. The hostess and her partner provide pizza and others are asked to bring side dishes. I was floored, for whatever reason, trying to choose a side dish to go with pizza. Plus, I didn't have a a lot of time, my time management skills still needing improvement. So I settled for reheating half a spaghetti squash with butter and parmesan cheese, G and I having enjoyed the first half the night before with spaghetti sauce.

As I drove there, my mind decided to torture me with possible scenes: indignant vegans questioning me about using dairy products in my dish so that not everyone could enjoy it, etc. (I seem to have met enough indignant lesbians to be able to picture them easily.) Finally, I remembered we were having pizza... which is traditionally topped with dairy. Duh!

Turns out it was a rather variant group although most of the attendees that night (apparently, there are about 30 in the whole invite list) were older (I was imagining younger), and everyone was interesting. Mostly, folks talked. Some knitting was done. (I'd been warned this would be the case.) We also talked about machine knitting, weaving, and spinning, and the hostess gave me a length of Blue-faced Leicester to take home to spin!

I'm glad that, despite my shyness and my imagination picturing excruciatingly unpleasant scenarios, I am willing to go to events like this--and that I go. I made a thousand and one excuses to myself why I should not go, but was so happy that I went (and so wrapped up in conversation, that I picked G up late and ended up tipping the gym guys a $20 for their patience).