"Plus its all the questions, like what do you do? Well i'm living on benefits cos i'm too sick to work."
My answer to that is "Used to be ____, got very sick and had to come home, and am now trying to rehabilitate, and explore new options for the future".
That signals to them that you're not going to be a total downer or grizzly guts, because you're sounding positive about
the future (even if you're really not). They can ask you about
what you used to do, or what you'd like to do, or whatever, instead of just shuffling their feet and looking embarrassed because they're dying to ask about
your illness and:
a) know they shouldn't and
b) are scared that if they do, they'll be stuck with you for hours as you boringly detail everything that's wrong with you
You could talk about
those outfits you're sewing: that'd intrigue them
.
I do understand, though, Choc. I avoided my school reunion for exactly that reason. What do you *say*, when everyone else is married / working / going overseas / fulfilling their life-long ambitions (and, darn it! they were slackers in school and didn't work hard and don't *deserve* the level of success some of them have now, and that causes angst in and of itself. But that's another post, and it's about
me rather than you
).
Social situations are scary. I don't blame you for feeling daunted.
I read another good tip today: go, but tell them in advance that you can only stay for a short period of time. I don't know if you could get away with it in this situation, but it's worth considering.
I feel the need to go and lie down for a bit, Chocholic. I might be back later, seeing as I rarely sleep :-/.
I hope you enjoy your nap.
Ivy.