Why did I write that in French? No real reason. It just sounds more dignified in another language. My parents are friendly people. Uber freakishly friendly people. They will talk to anyone. And they looooove parties.
Example #1, Everyone's a Buddy: Cocktail party at their house. Mom says, "Wendy, let me introduce you to Abby. We met her at the furniture store last week." She sold them their couch, so they invited her over. To see it in it's new habitat, I guess. This kind of thing happens frequently.
Example #2, Harass the Driver : When visiting us in Manhattan, my dad will try to engage every taxi driver in conversation, to varying degrees of success. What if the driver is hostile? What if he doesn't speak English? No matter! Keep going until you find a topic he likes: sports, politics, family, country of origin. There must be *something* he wants to talk about with the old white guy in the back seat, right?
Example #3, Dog Santa: On a recent trip to the pet store to pick up some Eukanuba, my dad chatted up the owner about their new (pain in the ass) Maltese puppy. After a few minutes of conversation, the owner asked my dad, who is a round and jolly-looking guy, to be the store Santa for an upcoming Christmas party for dogs. And, of course, he said "Sure!" So now it's all set. Ho ho ho. Let's hope he doesn't get bitten.
I consider myself a moderately friendly person. I'm not shy, and I'm generally happy to talk to anyone. I have friends (real ones!) and I'm polite. But other times I just can't be bothered. I'm baffled at how they have the energy, not to mention the inclination, to be so talkative *all* the time.
How about you? Are you as friendly as my parents?
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18 comments:
No!
I'd say more, but I'm unfriendly.
Ohmigosh, no! I'm amazed at people like your parents. I'm usually standing there like a deer in headlights, calculating how quickly I can extricate myself from the situation.
I'll admit it: I'm a social dunce.
On the other hand, put a child in front of me, and I relax and can talk for hours, no prob. Now what does that say about me, LOL?
My word verification is trucied. I think that would make a cool word.
LOL to Brian's response...
No, I'm the opposite. I have the hardest time coming up with something to talk about, or a question to ask, that I usually keep mum. I don't often go out of my way to start a conversation, stranger or friend.
I'll make small talk and such to be cordial, friendly. More so in familiar situations, with familiar people. But talk to anyone? No, usually not.
My mother isn't friendly. I think it has to do with her accent. She's embarrassed by it. You know, a Spanish accent is looked down upon...not like a French accent.
My father is friendly. Unfortunately, his topics are usually religion and politics. And he always sticks his foot in his mouth. Of course, he loves OJ murder conversations. Who doesn't??
"How about you? Are you as friendly as my parents?"
Doh!! I misread the question.
I'm not friendly. I'm a good fakeout when its required.
Brian--That's okay, unfriendly people are welcome here.
Spy--I'm kind of the opposite around kids. And I HAVE kids, so I should be all kid-friendly. I'm surprisingly not. I'd make a bad teacher.
Janna--Really? I'd've pegged you for an outgoing one. You have a friendly face.
Joanne--That seems perfectly normal.
AC--Your dad and my dad should get together. He loves politics, and he also sticks his foot in his mouth.
I mean, I'm not UNFRIENDLY, but I really don't just chat up anyone. In fact, sometimes I can be a hermit, haha
No, but I love running into people like your parents! They always inspire me to take just a little more time with the people I run across on a daily basis. NOt that I'm a grinch, but sometimes I just don't feel like chit-chat!
I'm totally like them. Not here so much, since my Spanish isn't completely fluent, but definitely back home.
Are you going to tell us what your title means?
Colby--I'm the same way. My parents think I'm unfriendly, but I think I'm just normal.
Rachel--They could take up LOTS of your time, given the chance.
Melanie--Oh, sorry! Santa Claus for the dogs!
Um, yeah. Never meet a stranger. :) Is Dad a Southerner? If not...he'd love it here. We're all pretty much friendly like dat. Bet he has a jolly good time as ol' Pere Noel! Talk about living life to the fullest. Go, Daddy.
That couch invitation is cute. Your parents ARE friendly!
I am kind of like that, I like talking to complete strangers and finding out how they tick. Once, I went to my husband's hs reunion, and I got talking with the wife of one of his classmates, and the two husbands thought we knew each other from before.
It's a fun way to pass the time in lines. I might invite a person I bought a couch from, it wouldn't shock my husband if I did something like that. :-)
Are your parents from NY? I'm definitely not that chatty and I'm from LI.
No! I actually hate small talk. I love talking, I'm a chatterbox sometimes, and I also like meeting new people. What I don't like is chatting up a storm about nothing.
Sometimes I wish I liked that kind of thing, but I don't.
My parents are from the midwest, and we tend to be a friendly bunch. That is, except for me. maybe that's why I moved away--so that I could be a bitch in peace.
My mother is almost like that. I can relate!
I am more like Janna, except when I jump into a conversation thread that I like. Then it is the opposite, which can be equally as bad. Too obnoxious by far.
No win situation.
If I'm in a good mood, I'm exactly like your parents. Especially when it comes to taxi drivers or drivers of any kind (like the ones who drive you from the airport parking to the airport). I think people are fascinating and I love to hear bits of their stories. I'd love to meet your parents - they sound like great people!
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