While sitting in a public space, a woman leans down near my ear to my right side and says "We WILL be gettin together , you know that right?!" I turn to look at her trying to think of a reply and not wanting to look so obviously taken off guard when I notice she is picking something up near me and talking on a hands free set up. She looks at me while continuing on as if nothing happened. I guess in her mind nothing did. I was still recovering. . .
While driving along a city street in the car with my son Kyle, windows half rolled down on a nice afternoon we stop behind a car waiting at a light. Another car pulls up next to us on Kyles side and from the corner of my eye I see a woman lean out the window toward us and say "Now, do you think I can tie your shoes while I'm drivin" in a very sarcastic tone. I turn to her and roll the window all the way down. She is looking right at me as if she is waiting for a response. Kyle looks at me to see what I'm going to say. I then notice she is talking to a child in the back seat of her car, but she still is making eye contact with me! I was about to say, "Yes, I believe you can but I'm perfectly capable, thanks" when she turns completely around to look at the child. She then looks at us again and then turns forward. Kyle and I look at eachother like "Huh?" Kyle says "What happened, Dad?" I told him the woman was talking to her child in the back and that she might have been unaware that she was seemingly addressing us. Oblivious.
While walking along the street yesterday a couple of young girls, maybe 14 or 15 years old are walking right behind me and talking about boyfriends and this and that. One says" OOO here it is, I got a text"! "Let me see, let me see" says the other. "Oh man, its Dad." She reads the text to her friend, "I need the model number of the coffee maker as soon as possible. Get it, should be on the back." The friend laughs, and the girl who recieved the text says " Yeah, like thats gonna be on my top priority list today". Poor dad.
Oh, and I am constantly hearing from people that I look like Jon Stewart from The Daily Show. Never heard that before, but hear it often in the last year or so. I think it has to do with the gray hairs I'm getting. . .
15 comments:
Hey Gary, That was great! I think you might have the makings of a book there: "Great Verbal Comebacks Never Made" or "Things I Almost Said - and am so glad I didn't" . . .
Mercury has gone Retro-grade, which means mis-communication for the entire month of September.
Just keep the ringing ears open, your eyes out in front of you and your mouth shut, and this too shall pass.
I think people wished I was talking to other people when I was at my prior job.
As for you looking like Jon Stewart.... Jon is a doll but I believe you are much more handsome.
I think it's a bit scary how people use technology and seem oblivious to what is happening around them. So many folk out there just sleepwalking through life...
You crack me up, Gary.
Those bluetooth things always get me when I am traveling...you're already share personal space a little more than you normally would and then people just start talking...they always surprise me, though at least I never thought someone was coming on to me :)
Ye, people staring at you whilst engaged in other conversations ... Gary you must be giving off signals ... Magnatism. :)
Bonnie, those are great ideas for a book! I like "great verbal comebacks never made"
Teri, I'll surely keep that in mind. I usually prefer to be left alone, so that helps anyway.
Sheila, I can imagine your right about your time in the PD, but I still think most were happy to have you there in their given situation.
Josephine, definetely is scary especially when people step out in front of your car while looking the other direction on the phone or with ipod cranking away in their brain. . .
Victoria, really. Its amazing how much personal stuff people scream out in a public space. I think its hilarious when people are walking alone on the street shouting and making hand gestures while on the blue tooth.
Sharon, the only signals I give off I think are repel. Thats what made this even more shocking :)
I've decided that all of these electronic devices we carry with us have made us a society of unconscious individuals. People walk into me all the time while they are texting or talking (and they are not paying attention) and then they give me a dirty look like I'm supposed to be paying attention to where they are going. I feel a rant coming on :-)
I'm checking my mail every day Gary and will let you know the the loo arrives (lol).
What a wonderful blog... and what humorous observations! I find that most people (myself included) go about their days rather unconscious of the outside world... I love when I observe things like this myself because it brings me into the present moment :)
Lianne, please do rant. I like your rants :)
Yes, I need to know that it arrives before your weekend get together. I can't believe it is taking this long :(
Daily Connoisseur, thanks for dropping by and leaving your thoughts. I sometimes find myself envious of the people that seem to be in their own world oblivious to everything around them. What bliss. . .
I am actually too aware of my surroundings but nonetheless amused in my constant observations.
Well done! You had me believing what you did each time you introduced a new scenario. Funny how things like you mentioned here can happen sometimes.
Hey, that's a compliment for Jon Stewart because you look even better :)
Gary, every time I visit, I get a good chuckle or a thought-provoking post... or both! And it makes me wish I had time to visit more...
That was a great read Gary...very funny. I did see the Jon Stewart resemblance (not in your fancy profile pic...but in some of the candid ones)
LOL...very humorous "mishearings"...I've had a few of those myself. And, yeah Gary, I've noticed a bit of resemblance in your profile photo and Jon Stewart.
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