Issues

So, those of you who know me will not find this shocking in any way.

I have some personal space issues. Several of them actually.

I really don't like other people to be physically near me. I'm also not really one to wear my heart on my sleeve.

These perfectly reasonable boundaries have been tested lately. I'm not very happy about that. I like my boundaries, and I have no plans to deal with my issues any time soon.

So, there I was innocently watching Matthew's hockey practice - and one of the other moms came over to me and started a conversation. To date, I have been largely excluded by the other hockey moms. I am not from our little town, and thus, I am an outsider, and have been looked at, however, not spoken to, while sitting in the stands. Just a little reminder - we are quite a ways into the season. There is only one ice time left.

Okay, back to the horrifying experience. She began by asking me which little one is mine. Totally reasonable. She asked how many kids I have - also very socially acceptable.

Then she jumped right into, "Which guy is your husband?? He looks a bit older than you - how much older?? Has he been married before?? Does he have other children?? How many, how old, what happened to his first marriage?? How did you meet?? How are you finding the whole blended family thing, do his kids like you, do they like Matthew???" Somehow, in the midst of the gunfire-like questions, she managed to tell me her entire life story...in terribly graphic detail.

I think I'm fine with sitting by myself and being looked at occasionally by the other hockey moms. Yup, pretty much fine with that.

Now for the personal space story. As if that incident weren't damaging enough. There's more.

We have started going to the early service at church. I like being home at 10:45, it feels like we still have a day left, instead of getting home at 1:30 (starving) and by the time lunch is done...you get that sinking feeling that the last day of your weekend is slipping through your fingers with alarming speed.

Anyway...back to the point. Our church has that awful 2 minutes where you are supposed to move around and greet people. Shake hands (AAGGHHH - touching)chat with the people you know and introduce yourself to those you don't. I try very hard to be in the ladies room during those particular two minutes each Sunday morning. Don't get me wrong - I don't have a phobia of going outside and I'm not afraid of placing my hands on the grocery cart. I just don't like people I'm unfamiliar with to be too close to me.

There I was - caught in the church when the two minutes of greeting came around. I was trying to make my way through the crowd to the door, when this well meaning individual stepped in front of me, and said, "Good morning!!! Come here! I need to hug you. I'm not a hand shaker - I hug everyone whether I know them or not. I just have to give out as many as I can every day...don't you just love a good hug!??" Oh. My. Goodness. You have no idea. The bright side is, I lived to tell the tale.

Next Sunday, I will be much more prepared. I will plan ahead.

I really am a nice person. I just like to be a nice person from a safe distance. That's all.