Howling

A lot of communication is projection.

You say things to others you need to hear.

Others say things they need to.

You ever speak to someone who is just waiting for their turn to talk, though?

I'd like to think I'm a good listener.

And speaking to those type of people, well that's just no fun.

My wife gives me a hard time because years ago, I said something to this famous dude in a rustic but bougie store in the middle of Tennessee.

Truth be told, we heard this guy lived in town and we were visiting the area and so I thought, maybe, just maybe, we could run into him.

Yeah right. What are the chances?

And we hit the town and wandered around, in those days we could only window shop in a town like this.

We were on the look out.

After a few hours, there was only so much loitering looking around we could do, so we left.

On the walk back to our car, we spot a motorcycle with a side car rumbling past.

My wife jokes, but half-serious, "There he is."

And I'm like "Yeah, right."

And she looks closer and confirms, "No, seriously."

And he and his wife walk into the same store we just left!

"Want to go back in?" My wife suggests.

I nod.

We are greeted with a loud (too loud) "Welcome back!" by the store employees, as we sheepishly re-enter.

I play it cool, because I am, but I nod and say yeah, we wanted to look around a bit more. 

But I'm on the hunt.

I eventually make my way over to the celeb's locale, thinking that my wife and little toddler wrapped around my chest would act as a sort of "Don't worry, I'm safe" signal.

"Hey [name], just wanted to shake your hand and I say I'm a big fan of you and your show."

He was extremely cordial. Friendly. Complimented my wife's camera. Cooed at my baby boy. Suggested and encouraged us to move to the area (as he had just recently). And rooted for us to keep hustling, telling us it took him five years of picking pitching his stuff daily to finally get a little bite.

He was a genuinely nice person. He treated us as equals.

Now, to the point my wife likes to poke fun at.

During our conversation, I kind of lost what else I was going to say.

So I stopped listening to what he was saying. 

I heard it all. I just wasn't listening.

I was in my brain, thinking of what else I could add, to this person who ended up being much nicer than I thought.

And while I'm searching my internal file folders, I'm hearing how he's discussing how terrible it is that the downtowns in small towns are being ignored. Really beautiful buildings going to ruin. Economy shot. History being forgotten. I mean, he's on a roll with how bad it is.

And when he finishes, I say it:

"That's outstanding."

We all hear it.

But no one sells it.

I thought about correcting myself, but at that point I wrap it up and leave.

After getting a photo.

In hindsight, I'm more embarrassed because I didn't acknowledge the fact that I interrupted his outing with his wife.

I should have apologized to her specifically and thanked her.

After we made our exit, a flock of older ladies formed a circle around the dude, effectively entrapping him.

I think I broke the ice.

Released the flood gates.

I'm sure he was there for hours.

I suppose I should feel bad about that, too.

The lesson here, if there is one, is that I never searched for something to say after that.

I learned to listen.

At least, I hope I did.

Hmm. What did you say?

A work in progress.

🐺

That's outstanding.