The name's Wizard. Social Wizard.

So, as you may or may not know, I sometimes struggle with the fine art of making small talk...thinking on my feet isn't one of my strong suits. I'm really really bad at it. It's kinda why I write.

I also sometimes struggle with letting things go...including and especially my social blunders. I like to hold on tight to those bad boys and tuck them away somewhere nice and handy so they're real easy to grab if ever I get the urge to make fun of myself. 

Sometimes I like to laugh WITH myself. 

Other times I prefer to laugh AT myself.

 ...depends on my mood. 

For instance, the other day, I saw a friend who is experiencing some pretty major health issues and as I walked by I quipped, "Hey ----!! How're you doing?" 

...and quickly carried on my way, internally smashing myself on the forehead for asking such a dumbass question of this wonderful person who was very obviously NOT "doing" o.k.

 There's actually no laugh "at" OR "with" for that one and I've managed to beat myself up rather handily and have since sworn to change my "go to" social greeting/pleasantry to:

 "Hi ----!! Nice to see you!!"

...or something like that. 

If you have any other suggestions, please leave them in the comments below.

I would be most appreciative. 

I need all the help I can get :D

That social "oops" came right on the heels of another that happened last Friday, although the Friday one is one that I can very definitely laugh AT myself about. I've had more than several chuckles and head shakes since it happened.

Immediately after the fact, I thought to myself:

"Self, that's the kind of thing you used to write blog posts about when you used to write blog posts. You should maybe start writing again."

"Yeah, maybe...but who really gives a shit about reading about my social ineptness ...or would it be ineptitude??? hmmm dunno"

...and I left it at that. 

But now since I'm apparently writing again and I am STILL shaking my head and chuckling about it, I thought I'd write a fascinating post about it. 

Although instead of actually writing about it, I'm going to create a sort of photo essay using the screen shots of a text chat I had with my fravourite friend. She and I appreciate and understand each other's "quirks" and quite often share them as a form of entertainment and/or as a means to elicit support and compassion. 

We've been doing this for nearly 30 years. It's a good system.

So here it is:

 "Social Wizardry: A Photo Essay"

(I'm blue)

...and we then went on to have a rather intelligent discussion about the results of last week's provincial election. We aren't total self-absorbed wankers.

The End.

**oh, and as a note of explanation...the "I like your house" bit was a crack aimed at a line I used 25 years ago in an ill-fated effort to pick up a very handsome young man at a party he was throwing at his house.

In my defence, it WAS a cool house...

...and I DID like it.