AnnO - Yup, once when I was little my mom left without me to go out in service. I cried all morning...
I have a five year old who I bet would love to go in service. her favorite thing in the world is talking to people. If we go to the zoo, she glances at the animals and then strikes up a conversation with the nearest stranger. If we go to a park or anywhere that would normally interest kids, she is only focused on talking to new people.
It sounds like you were just like my daughter, she amazes me, her father and I are rather shy people.