Like a fine wine

On Friday night I was at dinner with friends and family - and bumped into two friends from high school (that are now married).  We chatted about them for a minute and then the conversation went as follows....

"girl": Sarah, we saw you finally joined Facebook - we were looking at your pictures.
Me: Yep, I finally caved in.
"girl": We were just talking about you the other day and I was telling "boy" that you are so beautiful now.

Hmm...insert awkward pause while I stammer to say, "Thank you so much" - as her statement would naturally beg the question, "Then what was I before?", but all I said was, "You're so sweet - thank you".

She realized that her quasi-compliment was, in fact, not a compliment, and quickly added "well you've always been cute.  You know what I mean".

Uh - oh.  Now it got worse.  Let's all agree there is a BIG difference between "cute" and "beautiful".  Little girls with their hair in piggy tails are cute.  Rachel McAdams is beautiful.  And no, I am not comparing myself to her - just an analogy, folks.

I decided I was mostly done with the conversation (since I didn't think I wanted to hear what description of me would come out next) so I told her thank you a few more times, great to see you, blah, blah, blah, and made a quick stage left exit.

My mom and I were discussing it as we walked away and agreed that her intent was (of course) not to be mean (she's not a mean girl), but the way it came out made me feel so lousy.  Hey, in the past you were icky, but good news (!) now you're tolerable.  Ugh.

Then I decided to reframe the thought...so instead, like a fine wine, I'm getting better in time. :)