I often feel invisible and alone, more when I am with people than on my own. As a waitress (I don't separate them gender-ly a waitress works at a more run down establishment than a waiter) I am doubly or triply misread by customers. They assume not only gender but a history, future and general interests I don't have. I feel very invisible then.
But I don't feel I am made to be invisible. I can become visible an time. Pour someone's coffee and answer the crossword answer they're puzzling. Smile at a stranger and get a smile back, talk to a stranger and you are centre stage. I am an introvert at heart. I get so knackered at my work because I am around so many people, I need to be completely alone to recuperate, much to the dismay of my family (whom I temporarily live with, move out in Oct - Yey!) But I can be the talk of almost any town I wish and the centre of almost any group, seems to be a talent. All you do is smile and ask questions, and I am lucky because the answers are often interesting. Then you tell stories and they tell stories back. A community of anecdote. It's only towns and groups without anecdotes where I drown and become invisible against my will.
I get talked over also though, then I know it's time to shut up - or if I'm told. But I have never been punched so bully for that.
