Saturday was very social, as part of a women's group we had lunch together at a Tibetan restaurant, went window shopping, then to the auditorium.

Everyone was talking and laughing, raunchy jokes and slam put-downs of jerks. I was uncomfortable, first because that kind of junior high behavior isn't my style at any time and second because it wasn't conducive to the right kind of calm centered mind for a Dharma talk by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Maybe I'm just a party pooper. I like wit and conversation, not raunch performance and humor at someone else's expense.

The shrieking laughter and loud vulgar conversation continued in the car all the way home. By the time I fell into bed, my head was ready to fly apart.

Yesterday was much nicer. After church in the morning, with lunch potluck (and lots of conversation too), I got to have dinner with a long time friend of mine. He is an interesting companion, always ready to pick up the conversational ball and run with it. I like his company, and the food was good. Happy Birthday to Dan Gent!

Today I am ready for solitude and quiet. I find I need a balance in my life between the social and the private. Both are good; too much of one or the other puts me out of balance. Right now it's harder to find time for solitude than opportunities for socializing. That may change come December.

Breathe in, breathe out.