Les Amis

" I just got out of a bad friendship, I'm not sure I'm ready for anything serious yet..." This was the sentiment pounding through my brain at my son's hockey game the other day as a few of the other moms struck up a conversation, and later invited me for dinner next week. I accepted, of course. But now I'm panicking. Did I mention that these lovely ladies are all french and only one can speak english. On the other hand, maybe I'd be a better friend in french, anyway. Maybe they will excuse my oftentimes outspoken opinions as a quaint anglo-ism, my booming voice will show me to be passionate rather than rambunctious, and my thousands of seemingly inane questions, refreshing....on the the hand, I may clam up and remain mute, staring desperately at the front door, and smiling impishly inappropriately at their children all night long.
Dwelling over a lost friendship has prevented me from enjoying new experiences. Who knew a friendship gone awry would be so time-consuming? Maybe it's because there are so few people willing to put up with my idiosyncrasies and neurosis and I'm just so darn grateful to those who do? Or more likely, I've managed to use the demise of this friendship as yet another excuse to avoid taking some chances, mainly continuing this blog and learning french. Heck, if you ask my husband he may even remember the times I used my sour mood as a way to get out of dishes and laundry too!
But that (throat-clearing sound to appear here, drawing attention to the french word being thrown around, oh so casually) cliche about doors closing allowing others to open may well apply here, and I welcome the chance to explore all things french (such as new friendships), rather than the french baguette and french fries I have been drowning my sorrows in lately. I have been here for 9 years now (though I have been known to cowardly round this down to a few months) and am ready to ouvrez une nouvelle porte!