3/17/09

Friends in Low Places

Last week Molly posted about making friends and it got me thinking. I love the friends I have don't get me wrong but I hardly ever see them. I am 25, living with a roommate and I have a bf the rest of my friends (all girls I grew up with) are now married, married with babies or doing the single-mom thing. Nothing against how they are living their lives it just doesn't mesh well for a Wednesday Night Wine Tasting or other adult spontaneous activities.

My roommate is super cool so we hang out at the house a lot which is almost like having a built in friend. We were friends before we moved in together but not all BFF (oh and we work for the same company). My old roommate and I actually hang out more with socially now b/c I know where to go when I need a drink.

Anyway, I still feel like I am missing in the friend front. I haven't made any new friends outside of work or living situations for many many years. Although my old friends I can call out of nowhere and pick up the conversation like we just spoke yesterday its still not the same as having a real close friend that I actually did have a conversation with yesterday.

After Molly did her post went back and read the comments for suggestions on what to do. The funny thing is that she mentioned her Physical Therapist to be friends with. I want to be friends with my Chiropractor but I have no idea on how to say hey lets hang out without it being weird. She told me she does spin at the same gym but I've tried spin and its too hard-core for me. One day I will get some neve and not sound weird.

One of the suggestions that kept coming up was Junior League. I actually had never heard of the organization before. I guess out on the east coast its a big to-do. I looked up the website for my local chapter and lo' and behold there was actually orientation for new members. Fortunately, my nervousness did not get the better of me and I went ahead and registered. The timing actually worked out b/c the organization I was previously doing my volunteer work has been on a downhill slide with organization and I was no longer being useful there. I was looking for a new challenge.

The new memeber orientation was on Saturday and I actually decided to join. The group of women is very diverse. I was expecting at home moms with a lot of time on their hands. I would say the group was 24-32 professional with lives outside of the home. The meeting was held at the home of one of the recruitment chairs which was beautiful and she had a full spread of food set out early in the morning. She is one of those super-organized not of this world energy person to get it all ready. There was also a lot of bling going on. Newly engaged, planning a wedding or just married was the story for most of these girls. One day I will be there.

I am pretty excited about joining Junior League even though orientation is now the actual group doesnt start until the Fall. Best part? There is a formal event in the Spring! Hey who doesn't like a reason to get really dressed up?

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you have the right idea by getting involved in social groups. One thing I learned about life post-school is that finding friends is HARD. My best gal-pals in DC I met through blogging, which was entirely unexpected (and still weird to explain to people). I've also found a great community through the church groups I've joined, although that took a lot of trial and error to meeting friends who really have something in common with ME.

I'm excited for you and the junior league. I have cookbooks from the JLs of both Seattle and Portland; they're excellent. That must be a good sign, right?

Lexilooo said...

I'll be so curious to hear about JL! I had gone to an info session here in DC a few years ago, and wasn't wild about them. I've heard such good things though. Maybe I should give them a second chance?

Anonymous said...

Mel, I'm the one who posted on Molly's site defending the Junior League and saying how awesome it was and I'm completely floored that you joined! The League I am in has a membership slogan that is 'Each one reach one' and I think I just met my quota for the coming year! :) Anyway, I'm super excited for you and I hope your provisional year is great. Yay for the impact of blogs!

Tiffany said...

I'm with you as far as not knowing where to meet friends at this point in my life. Although, living in the South, I've always been under the impression that the JL is a little to fluffy and snobby for my liking. I'm excited to hear how you like it!