I talk. A lot. My mother tells stories of how my father would come home from work and I would follow him around jabbering incessantly. He would look at her and ask: Does she ever stop talking? My husband laughs at me now when I ask him the same thing about my 6-year-old. I mean really, I can't seem to get a word in edgewise around him. Actually, I find myself standing in my father's shoes, tuning out the continuous monologue, nodding and mm-hmm-ing every so often. Then I question my patience and fitness for motherhood, yada yada . . .
So yesterday, when I sat next to a woman at a social function whom I hadn't met before (and whom I noticed no-one had chosen to sit next to) and attempted to make small talk, I began to have some serious self-doubts.
Hello, I'm Jennifer--
I'm Chatty Finland (names have been changed to protect the self-absorbed).
And this is my family Matt, Eth--
It's easy to remember my last name because it's a country. These are my kids Larry and Mertyl.
Hi Larry, how old are you?
He's two. He doesn't talk yet--or chooses not to talk.
I'm beginning to understand why.
He's the one always screaming in church.
Oh, I understand that, my--
You know, the really high pitched scream? That's him. He does that at daycare too.
I know, I gave up--
I did too. But he's got to go back. I'm going back to school.
Oh, that's--
He'd scream all day--10 hours! I'd come back to find him in the corner, sucking his thumb.
Perhaps it was the only time he could say anything uninterrupted.
Oh, look at the time . . .
Like I said, I talk a lot. I talk about myself a lot. But I like to think I enjoy listening and learning about others too. I'm not self-centered, I'm just terribly interesting!
Maybe this is how other people feel around me. Perhaps I'll work on not talking so much, and particularly not so much about myself. Go ahead. Tell me something about you . . . Seriously, post a comment with something you don't think I know about you. I'm dying to read it. Anyone? . . . Is anyone still reading this? . . . . Hello?
4 comments:
You're definitely nothing like that!!! Talking is good, but some people don't understand that listening is, too. I have plenty of random things you don't know about me ... although I can't think of any now. :)
Hmmm....really? How about I've been skinny-dipping in six different seas/oceans? That random enough for you?
Shawnda
Shawnda, now I'm intrigued . . .
i totally understand and wonder if i'm as bad as the self absorbed woman i know who reminds me of myself...but you, no way! i on the other had have actually sat on my hands in church before to keep from raising my hand to comment yet again...Rachael Duke
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