So I went to my first home group meeting last night, and I brought cookies, and was therefore more than welcome. At the very last minute I was spared from the unthinkable embarrassment of having to bring my plate of cookies home with one cookie remaining on it.
AE (thinking): Oh no! My cooking isn't good enough to be completely devoured! The shame! The humiliation!
Then I spotted a possible source of salvation . . . a teenage boy.
AE: "Excuse me? Could you do me an enormous favor and eat this last cookie for me?"
Boy Twin: "No, I couldn't possibly."
I was crushed . . . momentarily. But the next moment, he took said cookie and gulped it in a mouthful or two, and therefore won a forever place in my heart.
As seen above, this teenage rescuer was a twin, and the other twin was a girl and looks absolutely nothing like him, which is thoroughly amusing. And they didn't seem to have many interests in common, what with her being the artistic-dramatic-romantic sort, and him denying that he possessed a romantic soul . . . but at the same time, they were so much alike. As in, they were both remarkably intelligent, remarkably talkative and remarkably delightful to listen to!
AE (after chatting about Jane Austen with Girl Twin, felt she had to even things out, so she turned to Boy Twin): "All right, mister, I'll be fair. You pick the next topic of conversation. Whatever you want. Something intellectual."
He thought a moment.
Boy Twin: "Let's talk about HOMESTAR RUNNER!"
I grew up with all brothers, so was I surprised? No . . . heavens, no.
But I got "proper-ed" again last night.
Boy Twin: "I don't know why you're best friends with Erin. She's so nonconformist, while you're so . . . proper."
Stab in the heart!
Generally when I get that line, I substitute "fun" for "nonconformist" and "boring" for "proper." Sometimes I think I'll never escape myself. Still, I know at least that I can climb trees and run around barefoot and duel with imaginary swords with the best of them! The "proper" reputation just makes my Bohemian side all that much more interesting . . . right?
Anyway, it was an amusing social evening. No Bible study at this particular meeting, just dinner and visiting, but it was fun. And I really enjoyed the twins and the other teenagers there . . . but I didn't talk as much with the adults. Sitting between two delightfully verbose teenagers, I found it hard to strike up conversation with anyone else. Probably gave a seriously silly impression of myself . . . . You see, I'm shyer than most people would believe, and it's one thing to be completely comfortable and friendly with teenagers, but sometimes, depending on the circumstances, I find it very difficult to be completely comfortable and friendly with some adults. And last night was fraught with unstated awkward circumstances.
Still, I think I've made new friends. Girl Twin wants to teach me how to make a pie since I have never learned the secrets to pie-making success. And Boy Twin wants to eat the pie we make, so naturally he's welcome . . . anyone willing to eat my experimental cooking is always welcome. So, we'll see if there's a chance to have them over . . . .
Yesterday, I also took five-year-old blondie to the Durham Museum of Life and Science, which was fantastic . . . except for one small aspect . . . .
In the bug house, they had two large displays of exotic varieties of . . . cockroaches.
AE: "All right, moving right along . . . now!"
I preferred the spider exhibit. That's saying a lot. But I tell you, these roaches made Boris look like a playful kitten!
Okay, I need to pick up the book I reserved here at the library and get back to my poor sick Erin. I have the day off work today, so I'm acting as nurse again! | 
Not all trivia is useless.
