This week, write down a snippet of conversation you've overheard in public. Take a notebook with you when you are out to make it easier to remember the words.
With the snippet, write something about what you've heard, for example, imagine the reason for the person saying it or imagine the character of a person who says something like that etc.
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3 comments:
A man and a woman, on a warm and sunny day:
Woman says: "There's no snow for the Olympics. So much for the Olympics!"
Elaine (can't resist joining in): "Don't get me started on the Olympics! I feel sorry for those people commuting to work downtown. They've closed the Georgia Viaduct and the Dunsmuir..."
Woman: "Yeah, they've closed a lot of streets down."
Elaine: "They're manufacturing the snow."
Man: "They can manufacture the snow but they can't manufacture the climate."
Elaine and woman: "That's right!"
Elaine: "Not yet!"
Woman: "Yeah, not yet!"
We all laughed.
I was surprised when I looked at this couple next to our table at the cafe, while eating breakfast. I only heard the comment and then I joined in. But when I looked over and saw them, almost instantly I was ashamed that I had judged them too fast. The comment I overheard sounded intelligent and well-spoken, so I was expecting to look over and see a more "middle-class" couple, fairly well dressed, etc. More of what I was used to seeing in this neighbourhood. But when I first saw the lady who had spoken and then the man, they looked more "low-class", and I don't mean that insultingly. I mean like "lower income" people. Certainly her face and appearance didn't match her spoken observations.
After that, we all carried on a very pleasant conversation with each other. The awful thing is that if I had not heard her speak first, I would not have thought to start a conversation like that with them. From appearances only, it didn't seem like they might have anything worth talking about, or at least not as significant a topic. But I'm grateful I had the opportunity to talk with them. They were both very nice, open and engaging to converse with. Let that be a lesson to me. Don't always go by the appearances of people. They may have something as important to say as the next person!
"Uuum. I guess I'll take a bag."
"Oh, that's an organic banana."
The guy behind me in line at Nester's Market was exhibiting the tendency of being ashamed to not have a bag.
I noted he was buying the very expensive free range organic chicken breast, too.
He was a young Main Street "hipster" kind of guy. Rail thin and bearded, with a plaid shirt, untucked.
But I guess, like most of us, he sometimes "forgets" his carry bag. And, after 20 years of carrying my own bags to the store, it's kind of nice that it doesn't seem "right" to not bring one's own bag anymore.
Small victories!
From Kay:
A snipet of conversation
Two of our very senior female New Westminister residents sitting at the mall , sharing their disgust with the local food store's markenting practice. Overheard as I walked by, " Red Rose Tea buy one get one free, well what the heck am I going to do with all that tea, I would just like to get a decent buy on the amount I can use". Well I for one agree with the women, when you live alone it really tics you off that you cannot have the sale price unless you purchase more then you can use.
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