I have a rather bad habit of interrupting people. I don’t mean to do it……and oddly enough, this is something that I have little tolerance for when other people do it to me.
I know that I need to be a better listener. And I try to, really I do, ...that is until I’m listening to someone that’s been talking about her son’s baseball accolades for…..well 8 minutes and counting……and I begin to think about other things in my head, while still smiling and looking like I’m paying attention….and then I might blurt something out of the blue because I just can’t take it any longer………
she: “and so then his coach told us… ”
Me: “oh that reminds me………do you still want that “Phillippa Gregory” book that I was reading?”
Anyway……..this “butting in” habit does come in handy with my friends now that I’m heading toward 50…. They will be talking and I will actually be listening, because, truthfully - I do find most of my friends most fascinating!!…..and I AM interested in what they’re saying. But then... wait!....it happens………they are talking….blah blah blah….and then….oops, like it does to most of us (and some of us…..on quite a regular basis!) -- That word is gone………they are searching for it……searching...searching.....it is usually a very simple word, that they use often in life…….and learned it when they were very young……..a simple word like “garden” or “toolshed”…….and the person speaking can’t help but worry that maybe this is a early sign of “alzheimer’s”….and then they describe the word to you…… “you know……..it’s that patch of ground that you plant flowers or vegetables in….” They are helplessly flailing their arms in the sea………and this is your chance to “jump in”……..with permission!! It’s almost like playing a game of charades, or cranium…….and you say (with not just a little excitement)…… “plot?” or “acreage?”…….no?.......... “garden?” and then their shoulders relax ever so slightly when you guess the word…….and you both laugh just a little and one of you says……. “don’t you just hate when that happens?..........does it happen to you?”
and of course it does. (doesn’t it?)
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