Talk to Strangers? Don't Listen to Your Mom
My husband and son hate it. I know that Mrs. B. is doing well with her chemotherapy. Mary at CVS' brother is doing much better now that he's been out of intensive care for a while. And Antoinetta's grandson is entering second grade in the fall. I talk to everyone when I'm out around town. Pharmacists. Supermarket checkers. Owners of small businesses. I started doing it because I was bored, waiting in line. But then I started to enjoy it. I've seen Antionetta's grandchildren grow from one to four (Mia is my favorite). And I've come to feel really good when Mrs. B. asks how I'm doing in that caring, kind way. And now The New York Times is telling me what I knew all along. Striking up conversations with strangers is good for everyone. I've made friends on airplanes -- from the young professional with a full bladder who forgot to undo his seat belt before getting up (fortunately, nothing more serious than a big case of the embarrasseds)