The Drive Home July 2, 2009

I downloaded John Grisham’s new book, The Associate, to my iPhone, Meredith’s iPod was full of TV shows, and the car was on full.  Our twelve hour drive home would be as painless as possible.

I put in my earbuds and we drove off down the road.  I noticed that Meredith was just looking out at the scenery, noticing the oil wells, and counting hawks.  I couldn’t let this opportunity for conversation pass so I removed the earbuds and we started talking about what we were seeing around us.

The drive home was a lot of fun.  I only listened to a couple of chapters of my book the entire 12 hours and Meredith watched a couple episodes of Survivor Man.  But we talked and laughed and listened to the radio.  No contest. The book can wait.

One of our conversations was particularly delightful.

Meredith:   When can I start wearing make-up?

Me:  Uhhh…when do you think you should start wearing make-up?

——–silence———-

Meredith:  I don’t know.

——-silence———–

Me:  I don’t know, either.

We both got tickled.

Insert a Period March 19, 2009

Have you ever tried to carry on a conversation with someone and you couldn’t? Not really. You listen and think and want to respond, but you keep waiting for a period….and one never comes.

Some people continue talking  beyond a reasonable limit and keep the conversation all to themselves with ands…buts…umms. These come between their thoughts and would be perfect places for periods, but, alas, one doesn’t come.

What do you do?  Do you jump on in and interrupt?  Do you wait it out and nod your head, letting them talk themselves silly?

Talking too much is a temptation for all of us.  I pray that I will be sensitive enough to sprinkle my sentences generously with pauses and curious enough to listen…really listen to my friends.

I need to remember to insert a period.  Someone may be waiting for a period.