Category: convos with strangers

i’m talking to strangers… here’s why.

me: can i have a decaf, iced, tall americano?

him: *laughs* cool. *laughs*

me: *bemused expression*

him: that order just makes me want to laugh.

me: i hope in a good way.

him: yes, right on. *collects himself* what was that order again?

me: *repeats order*

him: cool.

my drink arrived and the side of laughter made the coffee taste a lot less bitter. a fine way to start the day.

i’m talking to strangers… here’s the reason why.

when you are pushing a stroller with a 23 month old girl in it, apparently it’s instant fodder for people to talk to you. i was doing just that a week ago on a gray and rainy friday. baby mac and i were cruising the mall because we had to get out of the house and there are so many exciting things to see at the mall, not to mention people to talk to.

after seeing us pass by for the third time (baby mac was there to see the sights, i was there to log some miles), an old man sitting on a bench piped up: “it’s my turn next.” I laughed (somewhat nervously) and pushed the stroller a bit faster.

baby mac was playing with the collapsible canopy and saying “hello” and “goodbye” as i came and went into view. we passed by a kiosk where they were selling some sort of lotion. the lady interrupted our game.

her: do you keep your nails natural?

me: *looks at short, bare fingernails* yes.

her: want to see something amazing?

me: *points to stroller* she doesn’t like it when i stop.

(thank you, baby mac! yet another reason why kids are so awesome. they get you out of the hard sales pitch the kiosk people put on you.)

and then down another level, in the starbucks, a gentleman tried to give baby mac one of the coffee cup sleeves to wear as a bracelet, but she was overcome by shyness and wrapped herself around my leg. he backed off, but as we went to leave, he stopped me.

him: do you think she’d like this?

me: i do, actually, thanks.

and then i bolted after baby mac who had untangled herself from my leg and was enjoying her freedom from the stroller a bit too much.

i’m talking to strangers… here’s the run down of why.

an early morning meeting shuffled me out the door earlier than normal but with enough time to heed the siren song of starbucks. (yes, even though i only drink decaf…)

me: can i have an iced decaf americano?

employee #1: size?

me: oh, tall, please.

i paid at the next available register and ambled over to wait by the drink counter.

employee #2: *plops drink onto the counter* iced tall americano.

me: *notes lack of decaf, hesitates in grabbing drink thinking it might not be mine*

employee #2: *studies my pause* *looks at cup* decaf. that’s a decaf iced tall americano.

me: *processes her skepticism regarding the decaf comment* *reaches for cup* thanks.

employee #2: *pulls cup back* actually, i’m not so sure about that decaf. i wish this *points to machine* had a memory recall button so it could tell me what i just made. *dumps out first americano* *prepares replacement* okay, this one is definitely decaf.

me: thank you so much. i really appreciate it.

employee #2: have a good day.

me: you as well.

for once, it appeared i wasn’t the one in dire need of caffeine.