New Year’s Eve and Making New Friends
On New Year’s Even, my husband and I met a new couple. We loved them and couldn’t wait to meet them again. We made plans to meet that Friday night. But the next day when I woke up, I wondered if the champagne was fueling everyone’s enthusiasm to meet.
Friday arrived. As we got dressed, my husband and I agreed that we wished we could just stay home and finish Joy Ride instead. We had started the movie the night before, and we were sometimes crying with laughter. Going out seemed so effortful compared to the comfort and predictability of melting into the couch. We loved the couple that we met, and I was pretty sure we would have a good time, but going out with new people still comes with a slight unease. Will we like them as much as we did on New Year’s Eve? Will they like us? Essentially, will it be worth it?
We got dressed and into the car, and I told Andrew, “You know, now that we’re on our way, I’m kind of excited for this.” “I was just thinking that,” he replied. Maybe the hardest part of this whole thing was peeling ourselves off the couch.
We ended up having a great time. Conversation flowed, we all got to know each other better. It was really just a lot of fun.
Afterwards, we were both on a high from the great time we just had, and how connected we felt to two people that we hadn’t even known existed just a few days ago. We got into bed and finished the movie. After it was over, I turned to Andrew and said, “You know, it’s funny. I was so excited for the movie, but it really couldn’t compare to how great dinner was.
Don’t get me wrong. I worship well made comedy. The writing, the acting, the casting, the music, the lighting, the timing… so much work, genius, and attention to detail transforms someone’s vision into an experience we can enjoy and share with others. Joy Ride was not only hilarious, but explored themes like transracial adoption, sexism in the workplace, and how Asians and Asian Americans view each other. It made the viewer consider what life might look like if they were dealt a different hand in life, one of my favorite features of great storytelling.
But even the best screen experiences just can’t compare to real life. Living life is risky. When we venture outside of our living rooms, the food might suck, a stranger might be rude, and the people you go out with might be boring. It just might not be worth it.
Reaching for our phones and TVs, staying in, not interacting with people is the easier choice.
But what if the food is fabulous, the strangers wondrous, and your dinner mates a treat?
