This one’s for you, Shelby
I met Shelby in the lobby of our freshman dorm. I was with my best friend, who, because of a lack of peripheral vision, was known for tripping and running into things. Shelby and my friend spoke to each other, because they had apparently seen each other at the Rec center earlier that day, where both of them had fallen or run into poles or something. They bonded over shared embarassment.
Somehow or another, we invited Shelby to come to our small group that met in the dorm lobby. And thus began my experiences with Shelby and her embarassing stories. Something embarassing happens to Shelby every day. I got an email from her a couple of days ago, and right at the end she included an embarassing story, because she knows I love them.
The difference between me and Shelby is that she embraces her stories, while I tend to feel ashamed about the accidents I get into. It’s really good for me to be around her, because it causes me to think of my embarassments in that light - stories I can share. I think my favorite experience with her was when we were going to a friend’s wedding. We were supposed to be seated on the front row, but somehow the ushers missed that direction and we ended up in the back. Which turned out to be a good thing, because we really shamed ourselves. During the service, the bride and groom had communion, and the minister said, “Jesus broke the bread, saying, ‘This is my body. Take and eat all of it.’” He then tore a big loaf of bread in half. Shelby turned to me, horrified, and said, “They have to eat ALL OF IT?” We didn’t stop laughing for the rest of the ceremony. (In fact, I am laughing now, just thinking about it.) We offended everyone around us. Now that I think about it, I am pretty sure that we were also a little late to that wedding because Shelby ripped her skirt and we were trying to pin it back together. She ended up wearing her sweater tied around her waist to cover it. And the photographer refused to take our picture, saying we weren’t “formal enough.” And we didn’t get any shrimp because of waiting for the stupid photographer. That whole day was one comedic accident after another.
When I lived with my aunt and uncle, Shelby came to stay a couple of times. After she left, my uncle said, “She really makes you come alive.” What a fantastic compliment. I would love to be a person who makes people enjoy life. Shelby is definitely that kind of person.
Shelby is one of my few real-life friends who reads my blog (that I know of), and I have been thinking about her a lot lately. When you’re in college, you think, “These friendships will last forever!” Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. We have been in sporadic touch over the past couple of years, but when we do talk, we can pick right up. I think that’s the mark of true friendship. I am thankful that Shelby is my friend. Just getting an email from her brightens my day. 
April 14th, 2004 at
yeah.. everytime shelby e-mails me.. it totally makes my day too…
wait.. what…
April 14th, 2004 at
You are too too kind! I thank God for you too!! Its only 11:30 and nothing embarrasing yet….Yeah!
April 14th, 2004 at
hi shelby. I know kari in real life too.
April 14th, 2004 at
Trey, do you want me to give Shelby your email address?
Shelby, meet Brian. Brian, Shelby. Actually, you were both at my graduation party. So I think you have met. Brian was the one in the corner with the gimpy leg.
April 14th, 2004 at
wow brian.. a gimpy leg… thats how you want to be remembered.. hehe..
actually kari.. shelby lives next door to me.. we are best friends.. so NAH!..
April 14th, 2004 at
Yay for those friends who make you come alive! No matter how long it has been since you last met…
Good memories…
April 14th, 2004 at
I liked that story. She sounds like she is good at being awkward.
April 14th, 2004 at
Hi Brian, I do remember a “gimpy” person sitting in the corner, nice to meet you again!! And wow I suddenly learned that I have a best friend named Trey! I am so blessed!!
April 14th, 2004 at
Embrace your inner awkwardness, Kari.
Shelby is wise.
April 14th, 2004 at
so shelby.. you’re coming over for dinner with laura and I tonight.. right?.. we fixed your favorite…
uhh..
you know.. your favorite..
April 14th, 2004 at
Shelby, were you sitting on the couch under the window? or am I thinking of someone else? For the record..i’m no longer gimpy…well…THAT gimpy anyway.
April 14th, 2004 at
Trey is so popular! I can never compete with him! Curses!
April 14th, 2004 at
Do I need to desire awkwardness, or can I stop at just embracing it?
April 14th, 2004 at
Yes that was me sitting under the window, Brian! You have an excellent memory. And Trey, wow no one has fixed my “favorite” in years! Kari you “embrace” much more of yourself than you think! Heck you have a blog!
April 14th, 2004 at
I was medicated at the time, i think…I can’t remember…it’s all so hazy now.
April 15th, 2004 at
Shelby and Trey, how was dinner last night?
April 15th, 2004 at
That was a hilarious story.
April 15th, 2004 at
Kari, you are just too popular, girl!
April 15th, 2004 at
Dinner was super! Hats off to the chef! Its so good to have “best” friends who know exactly what makes you happy!
April 15th, 2004 at
Actually, Roger, it appears that Shelby is the popular one. I am going to change my format and only blog about her. hehe.
April 15th, 2004 at
shelby came over.. and we of course all ate her uhh.. “favorite”.. it was quite delicious too.. Ive never had uhh.. shelby’s favorite like that before.. laura REALLY outdid herself….I can tell you.. ha.. haha… *ahem*… then we made smores and watched re-runs of kung-fu.. shelby.. you should come by more often..hehe…
oh and kari.. you can come too… I uhh.. I guess..;)
June 3rd, 2004 at
[...] These are less disgusting than this week’s earlier PSA, thankfully. First, my fabulous friend Shelby now has a blog! Second, as a counter to the [...]