Thanks to all of you who responded sympathetically to my post. I didn't really expect anyone to respond, but I'm glad you did. i will PM some of you who wrote to me.

Peace, I'll admit that I seriously considered not coming to the Getaway this year, but I'm glad I did. Even someone who is not a member of the Inner Circle can have fun there. I did.


Ebbie, thanks for your advice. You and I have walked along same of the up hill paths. I really do want to reach out and connect with other people. The life of a hermit does not appeal to me. I'm pondering your remark about the uncommunicative face. Is my face like that, I wonder? I smile and make eye contact. I know this because other people have told me so. I think you've touched on something very important. Someone once told me that shyness is often mistaken for coldness. maybe that's what's been happening to me. There's the old saying that cry and you cry alone but laugh and the whole world laughs with you. I stick with people and try to help them through their hard times. It's true that virtue is its own and only reward. maybe they don't want to be reminded of their hard times, maybe they want to be surrounded by party people. Alas I'm not much of a party person.

Bobert, do you expect me to believe that you're shy? I appreciate what you said about making the initial effort to reach out to people because it will pay off. Damn it! I've been making that initial effort for 10 or 20 years. The people I've said Hello to so many times over the years might say hello to me by now. Is that asking too much. It takes some time and effort to get to know someone, especially someone who is shy. Ten or 20 years is a long time.

Jacqui, I've been singing songs and tunes for years.

Mary rrf, that's good advice. I've already done that (posting sometimes on Mudcat and telling people my Mudcat name when I meet them.)

KT, I agree with you about the importance of trust. I suspect that your son picked up the habit of trusting from you. (You're a good mother.) It takes a while for me to get to trust someone. I have negative expectations based on things in my past. Shyness may be a misguided defense mechanism. Stand in the shadows so no one will shoot you. I think that may be the key that will open the lock for me. How do I get instant or quick trust?

Ron, you wrote about shyness and performing. Consider the importance of positive feedback. I've heard that it takes nine positive interactions to make up for one negative interaction. You can do a thousand things right and only one thing wrong, but the one thing wrong is often the only thing you hear about.

I didn't expect to write this much. I guess I'm less shy on Mudcat than in person. I *thank* everyone for your advice.