Friendly People

Do you know those people who are strangers but who are very candid with personal or historical information about themselves with out any provocation? They sort of make you feel uncomfortable because with no previous relationship formed it is a little unusual to be hearing intimate details about their lives. Most of the time this information begins with a health issue that they need to talk about with others. Like the woman who sat next to me on the plane smelling of stale cigarettes and perfume and eating cold pizza. She told me all about her recent back surgery and how it has debilitated her, keeping her from work and which then lead the conversation spiraling down into how her and her brother just don't talk anymore and how they've grown apart. She has remained fairly close with her parents, however, which shed a little brighter light on her somewhat sad sounding life.

Then there was the woman in Target who told me I should not stray from my cart since I had left my wallet in it (I have been cautioned by others before her for the same transgression). Instead of stopping at the warning, she told me that she gets warned about the same thing, but it is usually by her boyfriend. She said to me, in front of several other people in line, that she is just not used to someone caring about her like that since she left home at 14 years old. Wow, I said. She went into detailed stories of her living situation and how she survived on wit and the kindness of others. She told me about the different people she ended up meeting and said jokingly that no one would probably miss her if she were gone, not even her grown children, except that her new boyfriend really seems to care. I must admit, I did encouraged this person to talk more by asking questions, but when it was time to go we simply said good bye to one another. All that information shared, and then a simple nod and mumble of good bye.