I have been having some rather awkward encounters with…

"So much to do, so little done, such things to be." -Elizabeth Taylor

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Posted by: seb546 Original: 4/10/2006 9:28 PM Views: 41 Comments: 7 eProps: 14 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

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2 eProps from: bobadillo mystery_poet mistaj8805 DiddleTwiddle thomasrules one_stickybun pjcomposer

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Monday, April 10, 2006

I have been having some rather awkward encounters with strangers lately. I'm all about being friendly to strangers- I mean, I'm not one of those who is willing to completely have an all-revealing conversation with someone I've never met, but I'm all about smiling, saying "Hi, how are you..." that sort of thing. However, there are just some things that I (a) do not want to know about someone that I've just met and (b) don't feel someone else who has never met is qualified to say about me.

As for (a):
I was at a store yesterday, having someone ring up all my items. Anyway, the cashier (who looks around my age) looks at me, and says: "Ah, long day."

I, being polite reply: "Yeah. How long have you been working today?"

Cashier: "Since 10 a.m.."

Me: "Wow, that's a long time" (It's about 6:00 p.m. at night now). "What time do you close?" (this question actually had ulterior motives, as I wanted to know what time it closed for future notice.)

Cashier: "10 p.m."

Me: "Really?" (shocked since it's a Sunday)

Cashier: "Yeah, it's Saturday, so we close at 10." (Yet again, it's a Sunday)

Me: "Well, I'm sorry."

Cashier: "Well, like my dad says to me: if you're man enough to have a baby, you've got to be man enough to support it."

Pause.

Me: "Ooohh, so you have children?"

Cashier: "I have one."

Pause. Long pause.

Me: "How old is it?"

Cashier: "3 months."

Pause. End of conversation.

I'm sorry. That is something I do not want to know about someone I just met... It was just a little awkward.

Anyway, so on to awkward stranger encounter number 2.

So, I'm studying in the library, and a girl walks in talking very loudly. I, being disturbed from my studying, turn and look at her. She catches my eye and says, "Man, you look really tired." Me, thinking to myself that I got 8 hours of sleep, completely lied through my teeth and said: "Yeah, I am."

Okay, so being told you looked tired, which is codeword for looking bad, isn't that great- but from a total stranger, who doesn't know what you look like in the first place- it just seems a little odd. I mean, what if I look tired all the time?

So, an hour later, she sees me again and says, "You still don't look good."

Great, thanks...

Posted 4/10/2006 9:28 PM - 41 Views - 14 eProps - 7 comments

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7 Comments

Ha. Wow.
We've never met but I found your Xanga (a while back, actually) on the Rice U Class of '09 blog. I love your posts!

I understand you on that whole "man, you look like you're recovering from being hit by a bus, or maybe some awful, hopefully noncommunicable illness" comment (I've unintentionally done it myself) - and I'm sure it's worse from a complete stranger!

Well... ciao.

Posted 4/10/2006 10:23 PM by bobadillo - reply

Heh. I'm glad someone finally told you how you look.

JAY KAY. I loved your hair today in chemistry... I'm sure I looked a little frazzled today.

I have a hard time with people I know telling me stuff I don't care about. Most of my conversations with these people consist of me saying 'yeah' a whole lot.

As for the baby thing, I'm glad you referred to the baby as "it." And usually when I'm confronted with that kind of conversation I just usually offer to make another one.

Posted 4/11/2006 12:10 AM by mystery_poet - reply

i get b) all the time..."are you hung over?" "had a long night, didn't you?" ...or my favorite one, "you look disheveled"...hahaha...i guess

btw...everytime i randomly see you walking through the rmc, or around campus with those cute adorable shoes, that gorgeous tote bag, and all the accessories to match...i don't see where people get the idea you're tired or looking bad...

Posted 4/11/2006 3:18 AM by mistaj8805 - reply

I laughed out loud while I was reading this! Too funny, Sarah. I can empathize with the cashier one. I was a cashier for 3 years and I would hear my co-workers launching into diatribes about their problems to the customers and it was all I could not to laugh. Keep them coming, I don't get to see you hardly anymore! -Payton

Posted 4/17/2006 7:32 PM by DiddleTwiddle - reply

ms. baker, your post has made my day.

Posted 4/26/2006 5:04 PM by thomasrules - reply

(three months later) i was standing out at the bus stop in front of the RMC listening to my ipod, and this woman in a car maybe 50 feet away (shouting distance, anyway) starts flagging me down. i figure "hey, maybe she wants directions" when she asks me if i have anything to do with the building behind me (the bio labs). confused, i shake my head no, and she continues asking me questions and stuff. then she explains (in great detail) about why she's there (waiting for her alumni husband) and then goes on to say that she just loves talking to people and hearing their stories.

now it doesnt fall into one of the above categories, but i think it was significantly strange. which isnt to say i minded or don't like talking to people, but it's odd, right?

Posted 7/30/2006 10:59 PM by one_stickybun - reply