Like all good introverts, I turn into a pumpkin after an hour in a crowded room. Also, like all good introverts, I have an exit strategy, when faced with a noisy crowded room. Standing near the door is one such strategy. Taking public transport and knowing you want to be home just after nightfall is another. And suburban trains from deepest, darkest Ivanhoe only run every twenty minutes. I'd researched the train times. I had the map to the station memorised. I'd say my farewells and make my escape.
So much energy goes into planning the escape. I thought it might be a neurodiversity thing, after all, the event I was attending was a friend's book launch - well, double book launch - she's written two small books. I am in awe. As my friend is a Gunna (a fellow tribe member of Catherine Deveny's Gunnas community) I did what Gunnas do. Turn up.
I'd got there early, not knowing what the trains were doing, already being caught out on this line in the last fortnight. I'd got out of my gym clothes, dressed nicely, even put on a light dusting of makeup. I arrived on time, something that wouldn't have happen if I'd driven, and even though deepest, darkest Ivanhoe is about seven kilometres away as the crow flies.
And it was lovely to see everybody there - lots of Gunnas had the same idea. We support our own. For me, it was even more important to go as I was asked to come by the author. Of course I'm going to go.
I'm glad I did.
I spent the time talking with friends. It was lovely. My friend's books were launched in style.
Of course I bought the book.
And I made my farewells, ultimately 20 minutes after I was hoping and made the train with five minutes to spare, to be greeted by this sunset.
Yet, there is something dreary, almost depressing, about an evening suburban train, especially one you're taking alone when you're dressed up.
The melacholy feeling alleviated with a Chinese takeaway on the other end.
Looking back, what is the point of this missive? Probably turn up, celebrate your friends' acheivements and know that there is not much that can't be solved by being true to yourself, leaving when your social battery is about to run out, and that a Chinese takeaway fixes most things.
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