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Member |
Today I had lunch with a stranger. One of my buddies is the type who makes friends everywhere and everyday. He can go anywhere and makes a new buddy. I’m not an introvert necessarily but I do value alone time, especially at lunch during a work day. But today I took a page out of my buddies book. I was in South Boston, Virginia and had a hankering for fried chicken. So I decided to stop in their local Bojangles for lunch. I get my food and I’m heading to a table when I see an older gentleman sitting by himself in a booth with a cup of coffee. I walked over and asked if I could have a seat. Long story short I got to have an enjoyable lunch meeting Mr. Bryant, an 86 year old farmer who’s seen and experienced a few things in his life. Reminded me a lot of my Grandad who passed last year. We talked about his upbringing, his farming life, his late wife. 40 minutes passed and I had to go. We shook hands and I left. Nothing life changing, but I’ll admit I enjoyed it more than staring at a screen. I think I’ll be doing more of type of thing. ----------------------------------------------- What's the sense in working hard if you never get to play? | ||
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| Green grass and high tides  |
That is really great and I bet he really enjoyed that. My dad is 90. A guy we both know I ran into the other day. He said he see's my dad fairly frequently and really enjoys their interactions. I thanked him and told him he will never know how much those interactions mean to my father. Taking a little time for him and sharing some stories was probably something that really helped him that day. At that age sometimes life can be challenging. So good on you. "Practice like you want to play in the game" | |||
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His Royal Hiney |
I met an old farmer once. He was lean. The notable thing the person introducing us said was how big of a breakfast the old farmer ate every morning. Three eggs, etc., etc. He named a lot. But he explained he ate all that and was still lean because he still worked the farm everyday. "It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946. | |||
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| Run Silent Run Deep  |
The lost Art of conversation… My dad was the same way. Every road trip we ever took, every vacation, resulted in a few stops, and my dad would make numerous new friends. He could talk to anyone and had a natural way of coming across that made people feel easy to open up. A true gift. Good for you to get out of your comfort zone, try something new, and experience life. _____________________________ Pledge allegiance or pack your bag! The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher Spread my work ethic, not my wealth | |||
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Seeker of Clarity |
That's both cool, and impressive. My dad would say Hi'ya to anybody. He was a friend to all. I try to replicate that, and it's 50/50 whether I get a hello back. But think it's admirable enough to try that I don't say that to deter. I still do it. I've never asked to sit with someone at lunch though. That's amazing! Like, cat watching owner take a shower amazing! I'll bet the old timer needed that contact at that very moment too. God works in those ways. | |||
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| Eye on the Silver Lining |
I love this. My dad would love someone to approach him like that and chat him up with no motives except the interest in hearing a good story. Too few people today care about the stories older folks have to share. And most of them have lost nearly all their friends and family by that age; they’ve already told their stories or shared their insights with the kids and grands that might still be listening, etc. I bet you made this guy’s month. $20 he’s in that restaurant next week, same time, same place, covertly watching for you. I’ll send you the $20 if you go and he’s there, waiting for you to visit. __________________________ "Trust, but verify." | |||
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| Bookers Bourbon and a good cigar  |
The perfect song for you and the old man! Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going. NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER | |||
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| Member |
Speaking to strangers has become a thing of the past it seems . I remember walking down the sidewalk at a shopping center with my Dad . This was probably back in the 1960's. I was around 8 or 10 years old I guess . Every time my Dad passed another person he would nod and say hello or how ya doing , etc. Finally I asked him if he knew all those people ? He said no , that's just what you do .It's just being polite . Funny the little things you remember . | |||
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| The Ice Cream Man |
This may be a small town thing, but I used to go to a cafe - pretty much only businessmen in the back room, and it was expected to just sit in the next available seat, starting from the back. Pretty quickly, you end up knowing every other businessman/professional in town. Somehow, im sure this offends feminists and would cause issues, but I think its healthier for society. | |||
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| Bookers Bourbon and a good cigar |
I'm the old guy in most scenarios but I almost always smile, nod or greet strangers with a verbal acknowledgement. BUT NEVER IN A PUBLIC RESTROOM! Restrooms are a no talk, no smile zone. Any dog can be a Guide Dog if you don't care where you're going. NRA ENDOWMENT LIFE MEMBER | |||
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| Member |
Thanks- A heart warming story to start my day. Putting the screen down and talking to people is a lost art and dying out. ____________________________________________________ The butcher with the sharpest knife has the warmest heart. | |||
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| Member |
I find meeting most people is like a bonus for getting out of the apt. Safety, Situational Awareness and proficiency. Neck Ties, Hats and ammo brass, Never ,ever touch'em w/o asking first | |||
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Hop head  |
for a second there I thought you may have met one of my Uncles, but he hangs out some mornings at the Hardee's in Halifax, https://chandlersfirearms.com/chesterfield-armament/ | |||
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| Member |
I think similar, except only talking small talk when side by side at the sinks on the way out. My family jokes that I'm "Mr. Mayberry" as I talk with just about anyone. Kids ask me, "How do I get these stranger folks to open up and talk about their lives so easily?". I just replied, "Just have to be patient and listen". | |||
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| Member |
LOL. I'm the same way. I have to keep telling my wife, "I guess I have one of those faces." She'll be in the fitting room, when she comes out, I'll know the attendants life story. I go to the hotel counter to get some coffee, I'll come back to the room with an invite for the private tour of the Pentagon, where the receptionist's son is on officer with the U.S. Army, etc. Happens ALL the time. That ability to be a good listener and emphathetic served me well over 30 years in LE. Tony | |||
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| Partial dichotomy |
That is very admirable! I do talk to strangers, but the situation has to feel right to me. And I have to be in the mood too. I can tend to be a loner and not very talkative, but sometimes I'm in the mood. Asking someone to join them at their table; I can't say I'd ever do that. But now I'd think about it. SIGforum: For all your needs! Imagine our influence if every gun owner in America was an NRA member! Click the box>>>  | |||
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| Member |
That was really nice of you. Was on patrol one night with not much going on, saw an older man sitting in a chair in front of his garage, I knew that his wife had passed away sometime back, pulled my patrol car in his driveway, got out and asked if I could sit with him, his eyes lit up, mostly just listened to him for 15 min and told him that I better get back to work. Shook his hand, told him that it made my day to talk with him. | |||
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| Just because something is legal to do doesn't mean it is the smart thing to do. |
I'm an old man and can be friendly with most anybody. If a stranger just asked out of the blue to sit at my table I am going to be very wary of how much of "my story" I am gonna tell. Integrity is doing the right thing, even when nobody is looking. | |||
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Member |
Garand- I know that was good for you, but it may have been even better for him. In fact, you may have made his day. I am going to try this the next time I am having a meal alone. We were made to be together and interact with one another. Thank you for sharing this. . | |||
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goodheart |
In my later years, I have gone from being a serious introvert (friends asked my wife if I was mad at them, as I didn't engage with them in conversation) to making a point of reading name tags, calling service people by their first name, finding something in common to talk about with various people I meet. I think I had to do this to practice medicine in a way that let me really relate to people. That became a conscious effort, particularly after I became a serious Christian and not just a churchgoer. _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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