People talk about the funniest things when they think no one is listening. On Friday, I went to Starbucks and sat at a table outside to drink my coffee and write my shopping list. Instead, I found myself easedropping on the conversations of the strangers around me. I couldn't see any of them because I was facing the road which made their conversations all the more interesting.
I imagined what these people looked like based on their tone of voice, and what they were talking about- medications, and the effects on the individual ( no, I didn't want to know you went crazy because of your anti-depressants), the difference between Florida and California (apparently we are more laid-back over here who knew?), boobs, sex, and who is doing "all the work." And I simply stare at the trees that are blocking the road and look unassuming and flip between taking note on these people, and writing my shopping list. hey, it is research, I am going to eventually need characters in my novel.
One particular woman dominated my attention, she said things that did not make sense. Like working for a top financial firm and getting paid for 40 hours a week but only actually working 5 because how important she was within the company (that's call stealing time lady, no one allows that to fly). Her daughter's school thinking she was the nanny. The guy she was with was eating it all up. There is a point where I become skeptical.
On this particular Friday, I also happened to look like a man who was sitting exactly where I was the day before. Or so a random stranger told me as he walked by, later, he proceeded to sit with me and strike up a conversation; all along I was thinking, "You just told me I looked like a man, buddy!" So I left Starbucks, and never got around to finishing my shopping list, which is why there are still no groceries in the house.
I think I will observe life using only my ears more often. Enjoy!
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