OMG, I WAS SOCIAL ON A SCHOOL NIGHT!

That's right, I went out on a week night. I cannot emphasize enough the bigness of this. I'm one who, once I get back into my nest after a long day at work, has to be crowbarred out the front door to take out the trash. But tonight, a Tuesday night, I went to the Flying Star cafe and...hold on to your hats here...KNIT! Yep. I knit. With other people.

Believe it or not, this whole thing started months ago. One night last summer I went to a different knitting group--that's right, I have left the house twice in recent months--because I wanted to meet other knitters. I'd been a lone wolf fiber arts gal for long enough, and it was time to run with the pack. So I drove a bajillion miles to another cafe across town and met some really hip, knowledgeable women who didn't have a lot to say to me. They were lovely, really, but it was a little difficult to break into their already-ordered passel, so I went away and just ignored that niggling thought that I should try again. I couldn't bring myself, the traffic hating hermit, to drive through stoplights and dodge drunk drivers just to go hang out with people who were pretty well entrenched with each other and not with me.

And then I found out that there was a group of knitters that met just down the street from me. And I knew that it was time to try again. Tonight, though, I had a plan. I did not want to get stuck for another awkward night with women holding sharp sticks who knew each others' stories and weren't interested in mine. My plan was to sneak in early, find a seat with a good vantage point and pretend to work while I surreptitiously checked out the group as it gathered. If they looked friendly, I would break from my disguise and join them. If not, well, I was out of there like a shot. Just call me Agatha Christie.

Unfortunately, I was late. And unfortunately squared, I was immediately made by the group's leader when I got there, especially since they were sitting right by the front door. I'm not sure what it was that gave me away; maybe that big knitting bag hanging over my shoulder? It's hard to say. She kept staring at me while I was in line until I was finally forced to acknowledge her and her big knitting bag. So there I was and there they were, and before you knew it there we were. I sighed, sat down at their table, and prepared to fake an emergency phone call from a friend if necessary.

But, hallelujah, I didn't need to! They turned out to be a lovely group of people, and since there were only four of us, it made it really hard for them to ignore me. Especially when I kept "accidentally" poking them with my knitting needles. They even gave me their screen names for a knitting web site so I could pester them there. And they told me they would help me with my knitting questions because, and I quote, "We want everyone to be able to knit anything they want." Raise your hands in the air and sing with me, We are the world, we are the children.....

It's always good when Wicked has a positive social encounter. And even better, she was back at her house by 8:00 with enough time left in her evening to get in her comfy pants, pour herself a glass of wine and celebrate her successful socializing. She is feeling very satisfied with herself. Very satisfied, indeed.