and in my heart, I am one of them

So why do I have the kid of gig where I must interact with people every day? Not just interact but form lasting professional bonds? Not just people but some of the dumbest, most annoying people on earth?

Well, I guess you could say I’m just lucky. Left to my own devices, I just want to sit and read, and mostly be left alone. Instead I’m immersed in the middle of a life that would make most introverts curl into a fetal position.

I have compensated for this- perhaps overcompensated for it- by being gregarious and at least trying to preserve the impression of liking to be around people.

So when I am around people- as I often am- who are very introverted and private, I try to help maintain their privacy. I never post about private conversations with them, and rarely post about anything that isn’t blogmeet fodder; I prefer to allow them their privacy, and for the most part, they have allowed me mine. On the other hand, those people who have been kind enough to visit with me for whatever reason, I have found to be decent and kind, with huge hearts. Bloggers and others I have met through the blog, people I have met at the gunblogger rendezvous, at group get-togethers for whatever reason- they really are good people whose acquaintance I treasure, and I will do everything I can to maintain the relationship while keeping it private. Some of them have become great correspondents, some I only get to see or talk to in person and often years intervene.

If people are measured by the quality of their friends, I’m pretty damned impressive.