Breaking Free

I had an experience yesterday that justified cause to stop and celebrate a small turning point!

I was driving around town running errands when something very odd happened to me! I was at a stoplight and I heard a knock on my passenger side window. I turned my head and saw this attractive guy in sunglasses knocking. Strange! A little intrigued, yet slightly afraid, I rolled down the window. He handed me his card and simply said, "in case you know of anyone who might be interested." There was a honk a couple cars back and I looked up and the light had turned green. The man ran back to his car and drove off. As the car drove by I noticed that it had US government license plates. I picked up the card he handed me and it was a recruiter for the US Army. I didn't really know what to think because I'm pretty sure it is not a normal setting for one to give one's card to another!

A few hours later, I couldn't get this rather curious event out of my mind. What would prompt someone to get out of their car in the middle of the street and give someone in another car their card? I decided that I had to call and find out! Now, there have been many situations where I have wanted to call someone or a business for whatever reason, but have chickened out in the end! This time, I had my 2 readers in mind! I knew that they would want to know what happened and I would not disappoint.

So, I prepared to put on my best investigative reporter voice and dialed the number....then hung up and paced my apartment a few times. After hanging up and pacing for about 30 more minutes I finally dialed and it began to ring. At this point, secretly, I'm hoping that since it was 5:30 no one would answer, but much to my unpleasant surprise, I heard the voice on the other end. I asked for the good "staff sergeant" and my hopes that he was not there almost came true as the secretary said, "I'm sorry, he's not here, may I take a message?" "That's okay, I replied, I got his card today and I might just e-mail him instead." Phew! E-mail, I can do! "Oh, wait," I hear on the other end, "he just walked in!" At this point my heart is giving me a full workout! My armpits are sweating and my hands are clammy! I hear him say something on the other end and I began my previously rehearsed dialogue.

It went something like this..."Hi, my name is Marci and I was the girl in the car at the stoplight earlier today (I didn't know how specific to be as, again, not quite sure if that was a normal form of recruitment)." He indicated he remembered, and I went on "well, I've been thinking about what happened, and I had to call. Not because I'm interested in joining the army but rather because I have to know if knocking on one's window, handing out their card during a stoplight is a standard procedure for army recruiters." Whew, I did it! Now I just had to wait for his response. I sensed that he may have been a little taken aback, but his voice disguised any insecurities he may have had as he informed me that "we do what we can to get the information out there." What? You've got to be kidding me! I don't believe for a minute that this is standard procedure! This was not the reply I was thinking I would get--although, I didn't really know what reply I would get! So, I said, "well, Sir, I just have to say that is a potentially threatening situation to be put into." He assured me it was not his intention to scare me and then his next comment was absolutely laughable! He proceeded to ask me if I knew of anyone that might be interested in the army! I told him I did not and wished him a pleasant 4th of July Holiday!

I have to say I was very unsatisfied with the phone call, but I have to take him at his word, I suppose! At this point, I'm sure you're wondering what my small turning point was. It is simple! I made the call! I did it! I put away my fear of potential rejection. For those of you who don't know, I'm terrified of rejection. I'm not just talking in relationships, but any form of negative response. I take it personally! It's one of the reasons I have such a hard time making decisions when friends ask me what I want to do! Secretly, I'm afraid they won't like my idea and I'll get my feelings hurt!

I'm interested to know what you girls think?