Sometimes in awkward situations, or any situation, I have a tendency to become even more awkward than the actual occurrence. My friends and I like to say I can be a squirrel. When conversations get awkward, a lot of attention is focused on me, or a number of other things happen, my body tenses, my face reddens and gets hot, and I start to stutter. Over the years, I have learned how to contain my squirrelyness to an inner conflict. A few nights ago, I had one of those moments.

I was with a group of people, most of whom I had just met playing cards. Everyone in the room started talking about and referencing a specific television commercial character. Because my roommates and I do not have cable, or even a television, I was lost. When I asked who they were talking about, everyone stopped talking and looked at me. One girl said, “You don’t know who that is?!”

I may as well have had three heads. I was too embarrassed to further admit that I don’t have cable either. I may as well have told my new friends that I also sleep in a retainer and use an inhaler. Not Cool. Not the way to make friends.

Throughout the next hour, the conversation continued to center on the latest, most hilarious television commercials. Instead of revealing my secret, I simply laughed along and pretended to know what everyone was talking about. However, I made mental notes to go home and Youtube “popular funny television commercials” in order to keep up with conversation next time.

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