Lesson 7) Close Your Eyes & Pick A Jelly Bean

Happy Week-aversery! No, I won't celebrate this every week (...unlike some couples I know) but the first one is pretty neat, I think.

Anyway... today we're talking about taking chances.
Before I start, I should point out that there are somethings you do not need to take chances with. These would include drinks that you didn't see mixed, strange little blue pills, and science classes that you can't pronounce the name of.

But people, that's something your probably should check out.
Today I went to a late lunch with a friend that I met at a Frat party. We'll call him Gerald (because that makes me think of Gerard Butler, which makes me happy). He was the sober brother than night, and I was the sober friend that was to make sure everyone got home, so we hung out a bit. The next day, he Facebook-ed and we talked for about a week. When he asked me to meet him for lunch or something, I was really hesitant. He's not my type, I'd just failed at dating about a week ago, and numerous other little reasons to feel weird about it. But some little voice (Erin) told me that I should just go and see what happened. The whole way there I was trying to think about things we might be able to talk about, because I was so nervous that I wouldn't be able to talk to him in any way, I'd only met him once! It had been a little nerve racking talking to Calvin after seeing him almost everyday for a week! I even started to go through a list of excuses to have to leave early.

You already know where this is going, don't you?
He, of course, was awesome. Gerald has the craziest life story, and it was fun listening to! We just enjoyed ourselves, and talked so long that he walked me back to my dorm (before he went to study for an exam tomorrow) to finish our conversation. It was purely platonic- I had overreacted and come very close to missing out on becoming friends with a fantastic person.

I'm bad about first impressions. I barely let people completely express themselves before I've decided whether I fear them want to be their friend or not. It's a terrible habit. Luckily I also have a guilt level that makes me suspect some sort of Catholic background, so those two characteristics have always balanced each other out. Hopefully you can take risks on people without having such little battles in your head. Yes, sometimes you'll strike out and the person will be a jerk, or at the least annoying. But every once in a while you'll run into a Gerald, and I think he's going to be a friend that's definitely worth shifting through all the stupid people for.

So, like the title of this lesson, sometimes you have to reach into the Jelly Belly bag without looking. You might get EarWax coconut or popcorn...
...but here's to getting watermelon!

Curl Girl, out!