Freak or Friend?

I find it interesting that the thing that separates us from developing a relationship vs. being BANISHED AS AN OUTCAST is merely .... timing. (See, I just did it there!)

(And maybe being banished is slight overkill, but bear with me.)

Imagine this scenario.

You're meeting someone for the first time and introduce yourself.  In the friendly parlay of Conversation Chess, they in turn respond "Well nice ta meetcha!  My name is Sandy!"

Naturally you respond with "I can't stand my kids.  They drive me up the freakin' wall."

Wait, what? Stop. Stop. stop.  Here's a ball.  Go play with it over there in the corner for a bit and gather yourself.

Now -- obviously that's a ridiculous statement and should never be used in conversation with strangers.

..... but is it?

Imagine this:  Instead of going all Gomer Pyle on Unsuspecting Sandy, you instead respond with some variation of name exchange, or whatever pleasantry you prefer in these scenarios.

Now.

A day, a week, a whatever goes by and you run into Sandy again.  Only this time, her hair's a little tussled, her cheeks are a smidgen red, and she's wearing Flustered all over her.

You offer to carry one of her bags since you don't remember her mentioning being a Pack Mule in any capacity.

She gladly relinquishes the extra weight ... and then it happens.  A deep rush of wind expels from her body as she tries to exhale the stress away, and she looks at you with those mockingly "one flew over the cuckoo's nest" eyes (You know, they ones you make where you're trying to say "sheesh!  I've had a bad day"):

"So sorry, it's just ... ugh, my kids missed their alarm again and I had to rush them to school.  Naturally there was a wreck today and traffic was CRAZY!  AND!  I just got out of my car only to realize that they BOTH left their backpacks in the back seat.  I could just scream!"

.....

The target is there.  You smile, because you've made this shot a million times.  A little grin edges on your face, and then you steady your shot:  Ready! ...... Aim! ......

"It's okay.  I can't stand my kids either.  They drive me up the freakin' wall."

Mutual laughing ensues.

And in that moment "it" happens.  For Flustered Sandy, you've officially moved past what I've dubbed "Weather Talk with Strangers" to something more substantial.  In the next meeting, you can oh so subtly mention the kiddos or something of that nature, which will spawn into something that closely resembles a conversation of two friends who are just getting to know each other.

And the same words were used!

That will never cease to boggle my mind.

I use this technique semi-regularly.  And by "technique" I mean uttering the most ridiculousness I can imagine in what is hopefully the Right time and Right place (and trust me, I get it wrong sometimes .... ohhh do I get it wrong) to move to that "Next Level" where I'm not doomed talking about how hopeful we both are that we'll get rain today.  (Seriously?  Is this the 1800s?)

And since I don't know how to end this post, I'm going to awkwardly stop typing and try and go start my day ...............

........... (multiple ellipses denotes awkward timing)


..... bye.