Dear Cr-Abby from Alone and Shy in California

SHY TEEN IS DETERMINED TO BE MORE POPULAR IN HIGH SCHOOL
DEAR ABBY: I'm a 13-year-old girl who just entered the eighth grade. I have a few friends, but I often feel like I'm invisible. They never take the time to call me. I guess I could take the first step and call them, but I don't know what to say. I guess I'm a little shy.
I spent a long, miserable summer with no one to talk to. I want to change this before I start high school next year. I am noticing several cute guys in class. If I have so much trouble with my friendships with other girls, how am I ever going to get to know some of the guys I'm starting to like? How do I get them to notice me? I hate to think I'll just fade into the shadows. Can you help? -- ALONE AND SHY IN CALIFORNIA

Dear Alone in California?

Darlin' there are 38 million people in California, 50 million if you count the illegals. To re-coin a NY phrase "if you can't make it here, you can't make it anywhere".

Your letter was short, just like Cr-Abby likes them but even within your few words, I found your problem and hence your solution is a no-brainer.
To quote you "I noticed a few cute boys..." So, you aren't really on a seek out "friends" mission or at least you have added the "cute criteria" to your list. So, this is really more about you and your hormones and less about establishing "friendships".

So, there are 2 possible solutions;

1) The PALIN PUT OUT PLAN,...if you are intent on being popular with just the cute boys you could errr uhmmm accomodate them or at least you can be a hormone honey.
***Warning, your "popularity" will come in 15 minute intervals (3 minutes for most first timers) followed by hours of more loneliness.

***Note picture upper right....this gal thought being popular via plan #1 was a good idea, but now she is more popular than she ever wanted to be.

Cr-Abby recommends plan #2

2) REAL FRIENDS...remove the "cute criteria" from your friend search and you will suddenly discover that there are a ot more shy and lonely people at school in self-sentenced silences waiting to break out.
***warning, these folks are busting, just like you, to talk for hours on end about idle prattle like; clothes, boys, girls, idolic icons and other inane and moronic stuff that you kids think is important.

So, make your choice, open your legs or open your mind..

...Cr-abby highly recommends the later.

Cr-Abby