Out of My Comfort Zone

I found this draft in my folder. It explains a dinner I had last spring with some old friends.

Wednesday night I ventured out of my comfort zone. My comfort zone is basically this:

Uh, anything in this general area right in here. Anything below the stereo and on this side of the bicentennial glasses. Anything between the ashtrays and the thimble. Anything in this three inches right in here in this area. That includes the Chiclets, but not the erasers.

Just those three inches. Not much more than that. So when I received a call from an old college friend, a sorority sister of mine no less, and was invited to a dinner for another sorority sister who is moving away, I agreed to go but I broke out in hives as I said yes.

First, let’s get this part out of the way: Yes, I was in a sorority in college. I know it’s hard to believe. I got that a lot in college too. I’m not sure the house or I knew what we were in for. However, in the years I was there I had a lot of laughs and met some fantastic women.

Second, it has been about 15 years since I saw most of these women. If y’all think I’m surly now, you should have known me back then, pre-meds. Oh my word. I was downright bitchy and self-absorbed. I was moody and jealous. In short, I was not a happy person.

Can you even imagine being asked to attend a gathering of people who don’t know you now and only have the “old” you in their heads? I’m not that person any more and I really wanted to show that I’ve changed and grown. I’m happy now. I relish other people’s good fortune. I love to laugh.

That’s the main reason I accepted the invitation to dinner. I wanted to show that I have come a long way. That I’m still good and not completely spoiled. That I can still laugh. That I won’t ruin a gathering a friends and I can contribute to it in a positive way.

Our dinner was wonderful. I met with my dorm roommate from college and her sister (who was my Big in the house), my roommate from the house, and several other ladies that I used to hang out with. We laughed freely and continuously. J and L (the sisters) are two of the funniest people I’ve ever met and they did not disappoint. They could seriously take their act on the road and make a killing.

I found out what everyone was doing now and saw pictures of their beautiful children. I learned that many people have changed in big and small ways. I also realized people accept me for who I am no matter who it is right then. These ladies are open to change and will always see the best.

Thank you, ladies.