But that's usually in a crowd I'm comfortable with or if I feel like there' s injustice afoot.
In settings where I don't know anyone, I'm more inclined to slink around the edges observing. This week, though, I was on a mission for work that forced me to not just interact with strangers but to charm them. Three straight days of it.
On the first night, I wasn't successful. I did make friends with a few hotel and conference staffers, but none of the big wigs I was to target were afoot.
Evening of Day 2, I had a colleague along and we did OK both during the day's work and and a little evening party. My wingman left me, though, for personal plans and I was on my own.
As I left her, I had only to turn left, go to my room, head to the gym and then order room service. It sounded so great.
But there was a big party hosted by CNN on my right. I was actually going left -- natural for me -- when my work ethic kicked and propelled me to the party.
It turned into a great professional networking opportunity but the absolute best part was when, in the midst of talking to perhaps the biggest wig in the place, I turn to a tap on my shoulder and see my friend Lesley Stedman Weidenbener.
It was nighttime but I swear the sun rose and angels sang. I had a friend on the island! A person who knew me and even liked me!
I did finish my conversation and makde connections that could serve me well in my professional life. Duties done, I beat a path to dinner to meet up with Lesley and her colleague Tom where we bored him silly with old war stories until another colleague arrived and we bored him too.
So I get through the next day, get home to Jeff and Ali, which was wonderful. I was really happy to get home.
Then, this morning, I was in the middle of my dirty kitchen, finishing up breakfast when Jeff says, "There's someone walking up the drive."
Alison was outside, so of course I looke up to see if she's about to be snatchen and found my friend Denise McFadden and her dog, Daisy, in my front yard.
And again the sun broke out and the angels sang. I love Denise. I even love her husband, Scott.
Knowing them makes that year of toiling in a place I won't name totally worth it.
I love my family. I love my friends.
Life is good.
Here's what made me happy this week:
Today: I'm happy to be in the kitchen with my little family, the NYTimes, coffee and breakfast about to be served.
Yesterday: I am happy to be home. Good trip. But home is, well, home.
Friday: I'm happy that in the midst of schmoozing strangers last night, a friend appeared out of nowhere. Great suprise that made this trip so much more fun. Not that the expected friends weren't already great...
Thursday:
Today I'm happy I was able to put all that early footage from the premiere of 'Revolution' behind me when I traveled the friendly skies yesterday -- did you see when the lights went out all the planes crashed?! Between that show and memories from that book Amy made me read about EMF plunging the world electricity-less, I was plotting out my last seconds! :)
Wednesday: Today I'm happy that when Alison is sleepy she still calls me mommy.
Tuesday: Apparently I wasn't happy....
Monday: Today I'm going to be happy and focused on the fact that when I survive the day, my family will entertain me at home.
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