Tag: boston

convos with strangers

conversations with strangers #13

abby mumford

you shouldn’t talk to strangers. here’s why i’m going against what my mom taught me.

me: can i have a decaf, non-fat mocha?

him: you sure can. *rings in order*

me: *looks through purse for wallet*

him: how are you today?

me: *oblivious to the fact the question is directed at me*

him: *repeats question*

me: *looks behind to confirm he is talking to me*

him: *laughs* you are all *imitates my startled face*

me: i don’t know why i didn’t realize you were talking to me. i’m doing well, thanks. and you?

him: maybe we should switch that order to caffeinated?

me: valid point, but my stomach prefers the decaf.  (*thinks to self* self, did you just admit too much?)

him: have a good day.

me: you too.

and as i waited for my drink to be made, i pondered my confusion. was it the fact he asked me how i was doing after he took my order? was it my level of tiredness? why didn’t i realize he was talking to me? have you ever revealed too much information to a stranger? have you ever been a part of a conversation you didn’t realize was taking place?

convos with strangers

conversations with strangers #12

abby mumford

don’t talk to strangers. here’s why i’m breaking that rule.

shocker of all things shocking, i find myself at porter square books. i hand over my book and the girl, who is set to ring me up, says “i know you’re part of our customer care program and i should know your name, but…”

me: *spells last name* *searches through purse for wallet* *looks up at the extended silence to find girl staring expectantly at me* “oh, you need my first name? is there more than one mumford in there?”

her: “there actually is.”

me: “wow.” *ponders all other mumfords she knows. the amazing mumford. mumford and sons. my immediate family members. my extended family members; none live nearby* “i’m abigail.”

her: “ah, found it. the first one.”

me: “i usually am. it’s nice until you’re the first one in everyone’s phone book and they butt dial you.”

her: “that would be annoying.”

me: “i like to tell myself i’m really popular.”

her: *smiles* *hands over receipt.*

i leave the store happy with my purchase and with my status as an almost regular, but wondering who’s out there sharing my last name. perhaps they have a first name that would trump mine thus putting them at the top of everyone’s pocket dialing lists? i must make friends with them immediately.

convos with strangers

conversations with strangers #11

abby mumford

i’m conversing with strangers. here are the details why.

i know they’ve been making some changes to my local grocery store, but so far, it’d just been to the aisles on the edges: the produce, the meats, and my favorite, the breads.

after a few weekends away, i am finally in town long enough to warrant a trip to stock up on supplies and yet, when i walk in, i might as well be in a store in another state. EVERYTHING has been switched around (the candy is next to the fruit, the soda is next to the crackers, the paper towels are near the chips, i mean, huh?) and so the fastest thing i can do is walk up and down each aisle taking note of what is now where.

after an unplanned extra amount of exercise, i’m finally ready to check out.

me: there are a lot of changes around here.

lady at the register (LATR): i know. more room.

me: was a building next door bought or are you just reorganizing the space?

LATR: *rolls eyes* reorganizing.

me: have there been a lot of confused customers?

LATR: *nods*

me: well, it’ll look great once it’s finished.

LATR: it can’t be soon enough. *hands me my receipt* have a good evening.

me: thanks, you too.

and off i walk down the sidewalks, crosswalks, and streets of my neighborhood that i thankfully still recognize.

feelings

red faced and hot footed

abby mumford

after my lackadaisical post on tuesday, i figure i owe you one. a good one. how about an embarrassing story?

i’m walking to my car after my yearly physical (note: i’m a bit flustered after all that poking and prodding) when i notice a car idling nearby, so i jump in and pull mine out of the way. (we all know that excitement upon finding a parking spot + i hate keeping people waiting = me rushing.)  i continue driving down the one way road and turn left at the light, but in my slightly incoherent state, forget to make another, essential, left.

and just like that, i’m lost in kendall square.

i’m not really lost.

i recognize my surroundings, which is saying a lot for this geographically challenged gal, but i can’t quite figure out the minor detail of which direction to go. at one point i consider rolling down the window and calling out my friend L’s name. she works nearby. she could rescue me. alas, the saving of the damsel in distress fell to the damsel in distress.

i catch sight of the Pru and phew! i know what to do. i want to be going away from it, not towards. i quickly fix that mistake and am patiently waiting to turn left at the next light. it turns green. no left arrow pops up, but yet no one is moving on the other side, so i go. and then so do the other cars. AHHHHHHHHH TURN NOW TURN NOW TURN NOW QUICKLY TURN NOW TURN TURN TURN TURN is a small sample of my thought process and then i’m turning and OMG OMG OMG IS THIS A, OH YES IT IS, HELP! ME! I CAN’T STOP! STUPID PHYSICS AND INERTIA AND AHHHHHH, I’M IN MOTION AND I CAN’T STOP AND CARS CARS CARS AHHH!

(allow me to translate my hysterics: the place where i turn? it’s a double lane, i.e. i just turned INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.) (consider me a lot flustered.)

i may be a woman. i may have blonde hair. i may not drive all that much in the city BUT I HAVE NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE. i am half laughing and half hyperventilating and fully unwilling to make eye contact with the guy who’s sitting in the car i turn next to. i can only imagine the expression on my face as i consider continuing down the road to a place i can turn around OR driving over the median in the road OR wait, i could just turn around right here right now. there are three things that support this decision. (1) they have a red light,  (2) there is no one in the second lane, so voila, room to turn around, (3) common sense.

i execute the perfect three point turn (the return of my good driving skills, phew!) and when a break in traffic comes, i drive  to the correct side of the road and just like that, i’m at work in less than 10 minutes.

admittedly though, still shaking.

i told you mine, now you tell me yours.

convos with strangers

conversations with strangers #10

abby mumford

here’s why i’m talking with strangers.

a group of three mothers and six kids (five boys, one girl) get on the T. there are two empty seats on either side of me. the mom sits on one, the little girl on the other. she’s holding a rock. i stand up and offer to switch seats with the 4yo girl so she can be next to her mother. the girl shakes her head no, so i sit back down as the mother smiles her thanks.

me to girl : is that your pet rock?

her: yes. i’m going to paint it.

me: *noticing her pink shirt, pink leggings, pink socks, pink shoes.* pink?

her: yes. *waves hand over the top of the rock* spray paint. maybe stripes.

me:  that sounds lovely.

her: i like pink.

her mom, noticing my pink vest and pink scarf, smiles.

me: me too! i”ve got some pink going on here.

the girl smiles at my clothes, but the smile doesn’t stick because meanwhile, the other kids, the boys from the group are sitting across from us having their own conversation.

a 5yo boy says:  i’m not in love with her.

the other boys say something i don’t hear over the screeching of the train’s brakes, but it definitely riles him up because the boy says again:  i do not love her. we were never getting married.

her, swinging her feet higher and higher, looks over at her mom: they’re making fun of me.

and my heart breaks a little that she, this adorable bundle of pink, is so aware at such a young age. and i can’t wait for the day that kid realizes he does want to get married and publicly declares so.

maybe even while riding the T.