Conversations with random strangers #ThrowbackThursday

21 Dec 2017 80 Comments

by Ritu in Humour Tags: , , , , , , ,

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Anyone who knows me will willingly confirm the following fact… I can talk for England!

And, though not verbal, once I start a comment rally , even on here, I find it hard to stop!

So it stands to reason, where there’s an opportunity to talk to someone, anyone, I will happily take it!
You can end up having lovely conversations with older people, who are sometimes boggled by the technology and communications nowaday, almost starved of regular ‘normal’ conversation.

The kids hate doing the weekly shop with me, apparently I ALWAYS stop to talk to someone and I take AGES… Hubby Dearest says the same… Hmmm, maybe there’s some truth to it then! 😜

Example 1.
I was shopping, sans kids or hubby, and went to the game section. Its Lil Princess’s birthday next month, so I need new present suggestions.. Too soon after Christmas! But, I digress.
I picked up Just Dance 2015 and went to pay… She loves these games.
An elderly lady was at the till. She looked at the game, then at me. I smiled and for no reason whatsoever explained it was a ‘getting ready for daughter’s birthday’ present. She said “Good choice my dear, at least it’s active!” We then went on to talk about the youngsters nowadays being addicted to console games, and lack of fresh air and exercise. This led to her saying she has no internet, no interest in getting it, and on to how her grand daughter insists on getting a text from them if they wanted to talk to her, not just a simple phone call! Her husband arrived and we parted company, with me getting a pat on the back for keeping my kids active, and for having a chat!
Yes, it does add 5-10 minutes to a trip out but it’s fun! I just can’t help it!

Example 2.
Yup, just today, I was in Primark and buying a couple of jumpers, which I had bought previously, but managed to shrink in the wash! 😳 Again, a lovely older lady was perusing the knitwear and happened upon one of the jumpers I’d also picked up. Eye contact occurred, then a smile, followed by a discussion about the jumpers being great, how I’m cr*p at laundry, and what on earth is up with Primark sizing!

Example 3
No, why would I stop there! The lady at the till was next. And after talking about the now infamous jumpers, we were discussing their practicality in my job, comfort and stuff, and I came away from this conversation with a ‘well done with doing the job you love!’
(And a queue of customers behind me!)

I have come to the conclusion its all about the eye contact…and smile.
So if you ever see me and don’t want to chat, whatever you do, don’t let me see you!!! If I smile, that’s 10 minutes of your life GONE! If, however, you fancy a chat, smile away!!! Just don’t wink… That’s just weird!

80 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. agoodlittlegirl
    Feb 02, 2018 @ 17:23:40

    It is quite rare for me to speak to others. Perhaps, that is why I wrote a book and blog every week.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  2. Radhika Acharya
    Dec 22, 2017 @ 04:09:20

    I’ll definitely smile and remember not to wink!! 🙂 I like a good chatter myself. My friends say I’m like an rj!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Chloe O'Keeffe
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 22:34:42

    Oh god, I couldn’t relate more! What a fab post! x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  4. Saddles to Shorelines, and Life as it Comes
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 19:08:53

    I also enjoy and get teased because I’ll start a conversion with strangers. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. reocochran
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 14:48:57

    I love overhearing conversations! So fun and funny! 😀 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  6. Carol
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 14:13:04

    You do make me smile and I am the same..Yesterday I went shopping just locally and for 2 things…I was over 2 hours time just flew by…Hubby not so impressed as it was his dinner I was late starting ..Oops 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Meg
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 13:35:06

    This is great! I bet you made the older folks’ day a little brighter by being friendly like that! It’s a wonderful way to be!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. thebeasley
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 13:12:57

    Aah I’d love to have a natter with you any day x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. Suzanne [globalhousesitterX2]
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 12:49:14

    Yep, that is me all over 🙂 Not all the time. Though especially with the elderly as sometimes I think most get the opportunity to natter as much to all in sundry 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. OIKOS™-Redaktion
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 11:59:15

    Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Lisa Orchard
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 11:51:19

    I’m like you, Ritu! I can talk to anyone. I think it’s good to reach out to people. You never know who might just need a friendly face at the very moment we encounter them. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Debbie Harris
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 11:14:35

    Great post, I think we’ll get on just fine as I’m the same as you Ritu, I find a smile and eye contact just starts the conversation! It happened that way when I met a murderer on the bus one day…..

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  13. Em Linthorpe
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 10:01:48

    Haha! Yes, I do this too sometimes. But then I cringe for days and weeks afterwards if I said anything odd or I worry about appearing awkward. The joys of being an anxious extrovert, bahahaha! I was looking at a Rick and Morty book in HMM last week and a young lady came up and said to me, “oh it’s great, really good, I have it and I love it” and I just got a bit unnerved by the sudden but friendly approach of a stranger. So I just said, awkwardly amd a bit too loud in volume “It’s absolutely great, fabulous, yeah!” EVEN THOUGH THE BOOK WAS SEALED and I had never seen it before in my life. Argghh.

    See what I mean, that’s gonna haunt me for years.. 😂😂

    But yes, the world is a million percent a better place when we get social with people, whether they are friends or strangers. Good for you 💜

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  14. Shailaja V
    Dec 21, 2017 @ 09:36:19

    Aww isn’t this adorable? I confess I take time to warm up to people but I think I’d love to chat up a storm with you if we ever meet. Maybe us being bloggers has something to do with it. So much time on the laptop that we get excited when we meet in person 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  15. R. Todd
    Dec 29, 2015 @ 17:23:26

    Conversation, actual physical face-to-face conversation, seems to be a dying art form. I, much like you, enjoy talking with people (much to the shagrin and embarassment of my family) which might include anyone who happens to be in a cue line with me at an amusement park because they are wearing a shirt I think is ‘wicked cool’ (I may or may not have used those exact words (I totally did)). My daughter will be like… “Dad, stop, they don’t want to talk to you” and I’m like, “Yes they do” and she responds, “No, they don’t, and would you please let go of their arms…”.
    Pfft, what does she know.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  16. Anna
    Dec 25, 2015 @ 13:07:07

    In my town you would be seen as perfectly normal. We chat with each other all the time without knowing each other 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  17. wafflemethis
    Dec 24, 2015 @ 03:26:32

    Sis you do know, telling me not to wink is like telling a fish not to swim. 😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😉😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜
    You should know better😘

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  18. Judy Martin
    Dec 23, 2015 @ 18:22:53

    Ha! That is lovely Ritu. I am like you in that I will stop and chat with people. I seem to have got that ‘face’ that people chat to! I think it is lovely though that you do chat with people, it really does brighten up people’ day to have an unexpected chat with someone 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  19. BexyBlog
    Dec 23, 2015 @ 16:33:55

    Love the blog. I think that picture is great! Just to let you know, I have made a new blog post and I would love for you to read it. and if you like it, follow. would be a great help! thanks!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  20. Jim
    Dec 23, 2015 @ 16:00:05

    talk for England? I was under the impression that you could talk “Forever”.

    hehehehehehehehehehehehe

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  21. Erika Kind
    Dec 23, 2015 @ 15:47:40

    Be sure that I will always smile at you sis… and since I can talk too for a quite a bit … add 20 minutes 😄

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  22. Akhila
    Dec 23, 2015 @ 15:34:12

    Ritu, your post made me to think about a whatsapp viral. The message was to smile at a stranger randomly and the the stranger will get busy by thinking who was that..
    Anyway nice article..:)

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  23. lbeth1950
    Jan 22, 2015 @ 01:04:41

    I talk all the time too. I figure if people don’t want to talk, they’ll walk off.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  24. sunsetdragon
    Jan 07, 2015 @ 05:40:39

    I talk to everyone also and enjoy meeting people I do not know at all-makes the world a more interesting place.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

    • Ritu
      Jan 07, 2015 @ 06:56:59

      Most definitely! My Pops always says, if you can make someone smile every day, Him Upstairs, will shine on you, so I guess we’ve just been brought up to be like this! 😁

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  25. Trish
    Jan 06, 2015 @ 22:16:51

    I do that all the time!! My kids just roll their eyes!! lol!!!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

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