I used to complain so much about how I am so alone, but I’m starting to realize that a lot of this is because I never asked anyone out. I don’t think I’ve ever had a group of people over for a birthday party in my adult life. I don’t ever make efforts to make or keep friends. I don’t even stay in friendly contact with my family.

I need to fix that, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I have the courage to do so. Here’s a list of the people I’m going to get back in touch with today, and try to see if I can repair what used to be good relationships.

  • Richard: He was a good officemate and introduced me to Bertha. The fact that Bertha and I didn’t work out isn’t his fault.
  • Jane: I was creepy to her before. I admit that freely. But I’m not creepy anymore. She needs to get to know the real me.
  • My Sister: I’ve been angry at her for years because she kept telling me to get help. Now I’ve gotten some help (Celexa!) and it turns out she was right. I wonder what my sister would do if I called her up and said without irony, “You know, you were right. I got help. I feel better. Thank you.”

I’m also going to try to start developing new relationships. I’ve asked Stan to go out with me to lunch this Friday.

On an unrelated note, I made a note of the license plate of the jerk who beat me up yesterday. It’s a vanity license plate, on a silver Porsche Boxster. The text of the vanity plate is exactly what you’d expect it to be: “FASTER.”

Oh, please.

It occurs to me that if one were to exchange three of the letters on that license plate for a different three letters, the license plate would be more accurate, though perhaps less self-aggrandizing.

It also occurs to me that I have a color photo printer with a reasonable stock of glossy photo paper, and that clear adhesive plastic can be easily acquired at any office supply store.