Overpeopled

August 15, 2009 11:33 PM

omewhere along the line, I became an extremely social person. I love being around people. I love doing things. I love hanging out. I love talking. Some people feel that it's a burden to be "on," to have to be funny or entertaining or whatever. I may not be funny or entertaining, but I rarely feel burdened by social interaction. In fact, most of the time, I feel undersocialized. I wonder sometimes why no one's doing anything on a Wednesday evening, for example. Then, when the weekend comes around, I'm always sad when people get tired and decide it's time to head home, even if I'm tired myself.

But the last few weeks have been hectic to say the least. Chelsadilla and I went on vacation starting on July 30th. First we went to L-Dawg and X-tina's wedding with everyone. Then she and I spent a week in a cabin in the Adirondacks with friends of mine from college. Then I came home and tried to get caught up at work, only to drive to Chicago on Thursday to see my mom and a few other relatives. Then my mom stayed with me for a day.

Every step of the way was fun, and I wouldn't trade any of it. And I can't even express how happy I was to see my mom or, more importantly, how happy I was to have her see me. She spent a day with me while I was at work. She hung out in my office while I worked. She came to court with me and saw me make an appearance. She even met a few of my colleagues. I really liked being able to show her what it is I do all the time, and I think she was just slightly impressed. I hope, so, anyway. And I got to introduce her to Chelsadilla, which was a big deal all around. That went particularly well, I think.

So I've spent the last three weeks hanging out, running around, living out of a suitcase, getting woefully insufficient amounts of sleep, meeting new people, and spending large quantities of time in close quarters with old friends. And at the end of this whirlwind "This Is Your Life"-style adventure, I was left feeling tired and spent. I felt happy, grateful, and relaxed, too, but also exhausted. I was, in a word, overpeopled.

When I got home from Chicago today--at noon after having left to drop my mom off at O'Hare at 7:00am--I was ready for an afternoon of anything but people. And that's what I got. I spent some quality time with the new guitar--which is amazing, by the way--and napped. Then I went to dinner with everyone, then watched Empire Strikes Back, which chelsadilla reports liking better than the first one due mostly to an increased amount of Wookiee sound effects.

So I'm unoverpeopled now, but for a second there, wow, I needed some alone time.

1 Comments

Dee said:

man, i know how this goes. it happens with people and also each time we visit a new country. somewhere on the second or third day, all i can do is sleep. it's all just too much NEW. the stimulation definitely takes its toll!

August 16, 2009 4:24 AM

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