I peopled yesterday.

Twice.

Let’s rewind.

Tuesday night, my heart decided to go into overdrive – not anxiety, but my ticker issues.  I reached out to one of my bosses who talked me through it.

I was terrified.  Especially when I began experiencing disassociation  and couldn’t form sentences correctly.  THEN began the anxiety attack.

Double whammy.

Wednesday morning, I couldn’t walk Butters.

(Who, by the way, is enjoying a cuddle day today – she’s been slowing up of late and walking stiffly.)

ANYWAY.

I was exhausted from the previous night.  Shaky, and experiencing the ‘anxiety/heart cough’.  Those who have anxiety know this.  It’s an involuntary action that seems to try to regulate the heart beat.

Called another boss and explained I needed time to get into work as I didn’t trust myself to get in the shower.  Dizzy, and felt like a new born lamb – wobbly on my feet.

Bottom line, ended up not going into work at all.  Rested a lot and recovered.

I get so frustrated with the anxiety.  I also get frustrated with the few people in my life who seem to think I choose to have these debilitating ‘spells’.

I do not choose this.

My heart is a horse of another color – and is pretty much managed with the digoxin.

Thing is though, because I do NOT choose the anxiety, I decided to put myself out there.  Out … There.  Eek.

_______________________________

O.K.  So, onto the good stuff.

Yesterday I had plans with one of my dearest friends.  We were going to have breakfast.

Simple enough no?  Driving is hard for me – when I go outside of my comfort route.

I did it though.

Had a lovely time and rented a delicious meal. Lol.

(I got the veggie skillet – but it was still greasy, so, you get the reference, I won’t go more into that.)

At one point, my friend said this:

Her: I’m a terrible friend.  I don’t call, I don’t visit.

Me: No you’re not!  I know you love me, and I don’t call or visit either!

And truly, that saying – about friends who pick up right where they leave off is so true.  I don’t question her love for me – and I hope she doesn’t question mine.

Actually, she can’t lol!  She still works at the bank where we met so many years ago and every time I leave, in front of the entire room I say, “Bye for now, I love you.”

And she says it back.

_______________________________

Part two of the day.

Movie with another amazing friend.

When I met this guy – I felt an immediate pull.  His aura is so genuine and lovely.  He has many hidden talents and his authenticity is worn on his sleeve.  I knew I adored him after just a few chats.  Felt maternal and very happy to have found such an amazing soul.

We had plans to see Beauty and the Beast.

This is where things get funny.

I met him in the lobby of the theater.

(Another thing I love about him, he’s an ‘on time’ or ‘early’ person, like me.)

We get tickets and drinks and eagerly head to the theater room.

As soon as we enter and turn the corner to see the seats, I notice the back row pretty much filled (ok, maybe 8) with teens.

One says, “Hey, can you get me a drink?”

I didn’t think much of it, my eyes were still adjusting to the light and I figured he was talking to someone else.

Nope.

He was not.

I ignored this and we chose a seat behind a mom and her two little ones.

Then when two more teens came in and sat further up, the ‘gangstas’ threw a flip flop down at the newcomers.

“Why you sitting down there?”

Now I’m alert.

My friend and I decided to take bathroom breaks one at a time before the movie.  He went first.

Well.

While he was gone – things escalated a tad.

Now, I may be anxious, but I also have my moments of courage.

The back row was in full swing and when I heard one of them loudly toss the word ‘fuck’ around I whipped my head in their direction.

Me: HEY! There are little kids here!

Him: My bad – did you get me my chili cheese fries?

(Teen giggles from the peanut gallery)

Oh NO he didn’t.  What the actual hell?

Me: You want me to stay here or am I going to have to get up?

Silence.

My friend returned shortly after and mentioned he’d advised the lobby that there were some degenerates needing discipline.  After I emptied my hamster bladder, I did the same.

When I sat back down, the irony of the entire situation occurred to me.

These wanna be thugs were thugging at Beauty and the Beast!

Movie was amazing, I cried the minute the iconic ballroom scene began.  I remember thinking, “good thing Emma Watson has had so much experience acting with things that aren’t actually there.”

Then I had another thought, “what if wannabe thug has an older brother with a gun?”

But I did the right thing.

After all, this little Princess was there too. (Face blurred on purpose)

My friend and I left the movie and promised to see more together and after a hug said “Bye for now.”

Peopling worked out.

And today, with not even half a load of laundry, I stayed home loving on my pup, leaving only to grocery shop and pick up medicine.  And on the way home … Teared up a little at such a lovely weekend.