Would it surprise you to know that The Bro and I used to freak our parents out on a fairly regular basis? No? Good. You’ve been paying attention.
When The Bro and I were little, we would talk to almost ANYONE. (Of course, we get this from Daddy-O who talks to EVERYONE.) There were really no strangers in our books, just friends we hadn’t made yet.
It made our parents nervous to say the least. I guess Stranger Danger wasn’t something we learned all that well…
(Keep in mind, we come from a REALLY small town where everyone knew everyone and spent much of our free time in a small city where we’re related – by blood or by marriage or by chance – to roughly 1/3 of the city when school isn’t in session and roughly 1/4 of the city when it is.
Maybe by the sheer fact that we DID literally know almost everyone we didn’t understand the idea of “stranger” all that well. The issue wasn’t that we were talking to people we knew, it was that we’d talk to anyone say in Boston or NYC or Florida. Ooops. Meh –
We’re no worse for wear because of it. )
I guess I don’t have to point out that this is still true today. With the exception of the people who make my tummy say, “NO RUN AWAY NOW!!!” I’ll still talk to anyone. So will The Bro.
The cashier at the store needs a smile? Done.
See someone looking lost in a store I frequent? Help them out.
Cutie at a coffee shop? Wink and say, “Have a great day!”
See someone at the convention with a pair of rockin’ red pumps? You KNOW I complimented her and asked where she found them.
With the exception of the people who make me uneasy, there are no strangers in life…just people I haven’t met yet. And many people have the potential to be my new best friend. (Ok, maybe that’s hyperbole.)
So. Who’s the best stranger you ever spoke to? The worst? Do they have a role in your life?
***
Request for the Day: Talk to a stranger. But not one that makes you feel uneasy.
October 29, 2009 at 12:34 pm
My brother was absolutely fearless when it came to talking to strangers. I, on the other hand, had shyness to a point bordering on disease. It wasn’t until I was in middle school that I could make eye contact with someone when I was talking to them.
October 30, 2009 at 9:18 am
Awww. That’s kind of cute. It’s better now though right?
October 29, 2009 at 12:50 pm
We are so much alike!
I can carry on a conversation with anyone! It is one of the things that made me an amazing bartender (that and the lightening fast hands).In all mu years on this planet I have only run into a handful of people that have made me uneasy. I have learned to listen to my gut.
October 30, 2009 at 9:19 am
Listening to the tummy is super important! And you’d totally be surprised what people will tell me. Certainly interesting and certainly stuff I don’t really want to know!
October 29, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I was recently on an elevator with a friend from out of town who made it a point to speak to everyone who got on and off, then the valet people and then the people waiting for their cars, I guess we Philadelphians are just used to ignoring you all
October 30, 2009 at 9:19 am
I’m so doing that when I come visit. Well maybe not everyone…How bout just the hotties?
October 29, 2009 at 5:26 pm
I’m weird about this. Depending on how I feel, I have the confidence most of the time to talk to random people. When I do, it’s alot like Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm where it comes off as slightly aggressive and sarcastic. Just my nature I guess.
Speaking of Larry David, things that happen on that show tend to happen in my life. Why, just today I took the initiative to talk to a girl I don’t normally talk to at work. She is pregnant and is expecting at the very end of the year. I asked if she was saving vacation to cover the end of the pregnancy. She told me that she was trying to but wasn’t sure if they were gonna let her vacation coincide with her maternity leave but that the baby should come out easier since it’s her second time. It was literally a WTF moment because I didn’t know what to say to that!
October 30, 2009 at 9:20 am
I don’t find you agressive. Sarcastic? Yes.
Wow. That’s def. interesting. What did you say back?
October 30, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I said “Well that’s alot of information. Thanks!”
The aggressive thing is definitely me if I need to force someone to talk to me. I’m sure you’ll see it eventually when I talk to someone. You’ll know it right away when I’m like that with someone.
October 30, 2009 at 5:01 am
Best stranger I ever met was on a family trip to Wildwood, NJ. I was way too old for it to be childhood indiscretion and it was really the last family vacation we took. Anyhow, we had a hotel near the boardwalk so walking that daily was the thing to do and I did. There was a particular skater/t-shirt/music shop on the boardwalk that I fancied and there was a particular charming awesomely cute blonde that worked there.
You know my weakness for blondes as it is.
Anyhow so after repeated stops there and chit-chatting I figured, “Well shit, I’m here with the family, time to make a summer movie out of this,” and I asked her out. Well, that backfired and her boyfried at the time worked there but she was REALLY sweet and really seemingly touched that I sacked up and did such an unseemly customer thing and well considering the situation it was pretty awesome. Certainly one of the more ballsy things I’ve ever done considering what a seemingly hopeless future that held in the first place.
October 30, 2009 at 9:24 am
That, darling, is worthy of phone call in return.
TOTALLY AWESEOME.
Why don’t you do stuff like that more often?
October 30, 2009 at 8:39 am
I am exactly the same way. I will talk to anyone – my friends tease me all the time about it. I actually enjoy small talk. Just a few weekends ago I talked for over an hour with a bartender at the wedding in PA. Even got her email. I grew up in Seattle – people are much more laid back and friendly – so here in Maryland it’s hit or miss. When I strike up a conversation sometimes I get a strange look and sometimes I get an open smile. Just depends.
October 30, 2009 at 9:25 am
I think in Maryland you get a lot of transplants from bigger not as friendly areas who just don’t chitchat. You’d be surprised what you can learn from idle chitchat or small talk. Go you!
October 30, 2009 at 9:17 pm
Pretty much any and everywhere I go, I make friends. Honestly. So, no particularly good stories, just friends all over the place. Now that I have a blog, it’s even MORE wide-spread.
October 30, 2009 at 11:05 pm
Ya’ll sound like you waz vaccinated with a phonograph needle. WELL….so was I.
ps I am not from the south
Its important to me to be careful cause I can talk somebody’s ear off. Nowadays I look for the little signs that a person wants to get going, like them turning their back on me and walking away. HAHA
Here in Flo-Rida folks are real friendly, but I don’t think that people are that much different wherever you go.
Hockey Joe….I luv me some Wildwood women !! Spent many of my teenage summers “down” the shore.
November 3, 2009 at 3:17 am
Is it any wonder this girl was a gorgeous blonde who was seemingly fun? Cute-Ella will laugh at that fact but hey, I’m sort of a reformed blonde-a-holic.
Sort of.
Kind of.
November 3, 2009 at 9:47 am
HAHAHA Reformed my ass. Ok. JM wasn’t blond, but still…I know where his actual preferences lie.