If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, or if you know me IRL (in real life), you are aware that friendship means a lot to me. I take pride in being a good and loyal friend and I value those people who feel the same. I have several good friends, and they’re all so different and unique, and I love that about them. But lately I’ve been realizing a little more clearly that each friend has a quality about them that I would characterize as “strange”, or “weird”. Nothing that would be a friendship-breaker, mind you. Just something about them that makes me a little crazy, something that makes me stand back and say, “Hmmm…”
There’s the friend that is constantly worried that her kids are going to be “snatched”. She won’t even let her kids play in their own backyard, which is not visible from the street, by the way, without being right there every minute. When we go somewhere, she looks for all the ways a child-snatcher could escape with her child. She has a hard time letting others watch her children, because she’s always convinced that they won’t watch for kidnappers as well as she would. I love this friend dearly, and don’t love her any less for having this little quirk, but sometimes I do think it’s a little nuts.
Then there’s the friend who never calls me, despite how close we’ve always been. But when I call her, she claims that she’s been thinking and wondering about me for days or weeks. She hasn’t called, of course. But she’s been thinking about me. LOVE love love her, but ya know…a little weird.
I have a friend that doesn’t ever change the way she does things, no matter where she is or who’s around. A whole group of girls watching a movie?? Well, she always watches movies in complete darkness, so she gets up and turns off the lights, without asking everyone else’s preferences. Going out to eat with a bunch of people? She never ever eats outside…sorry! It’s an inside table for us. A friendship-breaker? Of course not!! But a bit crazy.
Another friend asks me over often to hang out, but never offers me anything to eat or drink when I’m there. Even once, I went over and taught her to make one of my favorite meals, and then we ate it together, but I finally had to ask for a glass of water because she never thought to give me something to drink with my food. She also added seasoning to some of her food that she never offered to me as well. Another weird thing is that when this friend comes to my house, she often reaches into her purse and pulls out a packet of candy or some other snack and proceeds to eat it all on her own. I love her to pieces, but how insane is that?
One friend finishes your sentences with you as you speak. Another friend has very strange shopping and laundry habits. (She soaks everything five times before she washes it, and she hangs everything on hangers to dry so they won’t be ruined…even pajamas!!) Someone else winks at you often during a conversation. Everyone has their own little quirks…those things that make us all who we are. And don’t think I’m criticizing or finding fault…I’m really not at all. Like I said, it’s not that I mind these things. I just think they’re funny, and different than how I do things myself. They just make me pause and think, that’s all.
But then I started thinking about what makes me “weird”, and honestly I couldn’t think of anything. I mentioned this to Sarge, and told him that I guess I wouldn’t know it was weird or I wouldn’t do it, and he agreed. But he couldn’t come up with much for me, either. A friend says I say “Dude” a lot, but I think that just comes from having a thirteen year old son. I’m not sure it’s something that would qualify me as being strange exactly. So I’m really curious now. I know I’m not the only normal person on the planet. That in itself would make me strange! So I wonder what it is…what quirks do I have? What makes me a little strange? What about me makes others a little crazy? Seriously…I want to know.
And while you’re at it, what are your quirks?
Jenn @ Juggling Life said,
July 28, 2008 at 12:20 am
I’m pretty compulsively tidy, so I will do the dishes when I’m doing serving you dinner. I openly acknowledge this neuroses and offer you another glass of wine so that you can sit at the bar and talk to me while I clean the kitchen.
That not offering to share something? That’s not just weird, that’s rude.
Ruth said,
July 28, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Hmmm… if you mentioned me in that process, let me know, because apparently I don’t know what weird things I do, too! LOL For you, well, you are quite considerate of others! You always ask my preference for the light when we watch a movie, you always offer me something to drink if I’m over, you always consider the person you’re with, as far as I can tell. You do have a few fun quirks that I like about you – the way you say the “Shut the front door” thing and “dude” and even the old “huh!” that I seemed to endearingly pick up from you!
Nothing annoying that comes to mind. Nothing too strange. Maybe because I’m naturally comfortable with the abnormal… I have a hard time seeing it?!? LOL
Ruth said,
July 28, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Oh, I know something weird about me, I guess! At night, I feel REALLY uncomfortable if the blinds are open where I’m at! I hate the thought of someone being able to peer in at me and me not see them back. I do remember even asking a friend at her house if she wouldn’t mind if I closed them one evening! That’s a quirk of mine! LOL
Sarea said,
July 28, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Hmmm . . .It has been awhile since I have known you IRL, so nothing is coming to mind . . .but you have inspired me to write a blog about my weird friends too! I am going to have to think about my quirks, because I know I have them . . .give me a few days, I will be back!
Donna said,
July 28, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Don’t get me started…
Just kidding. I’ve been thinking about it, and I really can’t think of anything. If you do something weird, I probably do it too, so we don’t think it’s weird. If I think of something, I’ll let you know. Now whenever you’re with a friend you’re going to be self-conscious as your friends try to figure out what’s weird about you!
April said,
July 28, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I think I could do a blog post on all my weirdness! I’m not sure what your quirks are (you hide them well
, but ask your husband. I’m sure he has a list!
Mrs. Kitty said,
July 28, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Sounds like most of your observations of your friends are them not knowing their manners. Which I would find rather annoying. But I get it, not deal breakers. But it would be nice to be treated nicely right??
Share time. I say dude a LOT as well, but it comes from growing up in So. Cal. My parents HATED that I would call both of them dude. Still makes me laugh. This weekend I noticed that I say “ya ya ya ya ya” when acknowledging something. I annoyed myself. Also, when I’m at someone else’s house and I see a picture hanging that’s crooked, I cannot stop myself. I MUST straighten it. lol.
so grateful to be Mormon said,
July 29, 2008 at 4:09 am
hi there ~
neat post. interesting read.
if i see something crooked, i must straighten it, too. i don’t like to have people over to my home (i mean, even the people i adore). i would rather meet somewhere or be at their home. i don’t like it when people drop by without calling first. i call screen (but if it is someone i want to talk to), i will quickly grab the phone. probably a lot more, but i can’t think of anymore at the moment.
great post. you gave me much food for thought.
so glad you continued your blog. i like how you write. you know, you’re upfront. and like you, friendships/relationships mean the world to me. i am a loyal friend. i love my special people and am grateful for this blessing in life — our people.
sweet dreams, kathleenybeany
Imbeingheldhostage said,
July 29, 2008 at 8:00 am
I loved this post! I would say I’m four of those people– that could be a deal breaker to have that many quirks. I do like to eat outside though
I HATE talking on the phone and it’s really hard to return calls because of it. I’m worse with text messages. who knows why.
I am thrilled to have met my first “normal” person though!
SWC said,
July 29, 2008 at 8:23 am
Well, I would say what makes you weird is being normal. LOL! I’m gonna have to think about that one. I’m with Mrs. Kitty….sounds like the weirdnesses of your friends are more like brain-farts with their manners. You, on the other hand, have impeccable manners.
Now, with me….I think there are way too many things that make me weird that I couldn’t possibly pinpoint just one. I also enjoy saying “dude”. I also have to humor of a 12 year old boy at times. I rearrange all of my sandwiches. So, let’s say I go to Subway. The “Sandwich Artist” puts all the toppings on so willy nilly. I have to unwrap the sandwich and open it and then evenly distribute all of the contents. If I don’t I will feel very uncomfortable. I’m sure you could come up with a bunch of other things. Anyway, talk to you soon. Miss you…maybe Sunday?
LaskiGal said,
July 30, 2008 at 12:30 am
Chunky word vomit. I try to say something and it comes out like chunky word vomit . . .
Now, I promise to give you an honest-to-goodness assessment when we finally meet. Next time I come in. k?
Jaina said,
August 1, 2008 at 2:33 pm
I’m sure I have plenty of weird quirks, I think just about everyone does. Unfortunately I can’t think of anything overly weird at the moment. I’d have to ask people.
Lunanik said,
August 17, 2008 at 1:00 am
I wish I knew you irl and could identify your quirks!
As for mine…I twirl my hair…A LOT. Like, non-stop.
bqkimmy said,
August 17, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Your friend that doesn’t call… that is totally what I am like. I always think about my friends and I think that should call them but I don’t. There is just something about picking up the phone and making that call… I just dread the act of actually calling. There is something in me that always makes me think they won’t be home, or they will be too busy to talk or it is somehow going to be an annoyance to them that I have called… and so I don’t. Maybe your friend has this same kind of crazy logic going on.