Top 7 Reasons to Know You're a Spinster: Part II

1.) You've received advertisements for the "50s Singles" when you're only in your 20s
2.) People on college campus call you ma'am
3.) You look at the "jean" sweats and they no longer look so ridiculous
4.) Your heart patters at the thought of free food or chocolate
5.) Instead of being a regular at some place called "The Park" or the "Black Cat", you are now at regular at a place called "The Public Library"
6.) When you choose to eat 10 cookies instead of exercise
7.) You thought Nicholas Sparks was in the advertisement business for fireworks...

The Art of Conversation

Since I've been in a smallish Midwest town, I'm trying to learn the art of conversation.

Being from the East coast, I am very hesitant when a stranger starts talking to me. I know its terrible, but I always wonder in the back of my mind, "What is their objective?" I'm not used to random strangers just having a conversation, unless its to talk about the plight of the Redskins.

The art of conversation and shooting the breeze with a complete stranger is a lost art. If not on my generation, at the very least its been lost on me. Those who don't know me will think I am the most quiet person in the world. I remember my job at first didn't know I could talk because I was so quiet the first couple of months. Once you get to know me a little more and I get more comfortable, some friends laugh at the thought that I can actually be quiet. Nonetheless, it is the art of conversation with a stranger that seems to bring to life a conversation and the opportunity to meet new friends. Which brings me to the new friend, I met in the Walmart and the lost art in the works:

The Walmart was packed because all the college students had come back to campus and were going to Walmart to get all their dorm supplies. As I was waiting in a long line, a cute little old man came up behind me. I kinda glanced back and gave him an awkward smile.

"Whew! Walmart sure is busy today." The old man says to me.
"Yes" I reply and in an attempt to try this art of conversation I counter "The college students must be back"
"I reckon so...." The old man replies.
I smile because I'm so glad I attempted my conversation with a stranger and was ready to get back to staring down the line to will it to move faster.
"So...are you a college student?" The man continues.
"No. I'm not, I've already graduated." I try to say with a smile.
"Oh. I thought you were a college student. With the college students being back and all...."
Chuckle. "Yep, I've already graduated"
"Well you sure look like a college student"
Me: Silence

He then goes on to tell me his story of how he used to be a janitor at the school and how he was always happy when the students came back. He said he was so happy to finally have things to clean again because in the summer there were no students so he didn't have anything to clean.
"Yep, its sure nice to have these college students back again" He ends with a smile.

I am blown away at a good example of the hard working people here and how they are so proud to do the best in their job. How they were grateful for the line because it meant a janitor would no longer be bored and that all the students were happy. My conversation skills had reached a max, though, so I simply smiled back at him. His wife came back shortly after, so I got off the hook.

Soon after, I found a new line that was moving faster and hopped into it and was out the door in a flash. I learned a valuable lesson about the art of conversation, though, and how it can open your eyes to the world around you.

Getting to Know Your Roommates

So I have changed room mates since being in Illinois. The new ones came approximately 2 weeks ago and they are EXTREMELY quiet. The doors are always closed and I never know if they are home or not. Perhaps it wouldn't be so weird, if it wasn't for the stark contrast of running in and out of my previous roommates' rooms :). Anyways, when I first met them, one had a really strong accent...and I kinda didn't understand what she said. The other one, I understood her name, but I just forgot it. I'm not good with names and often need repeated introductions, but when it comes to roommates, there is a small window of leniency in which you can still ask, "What's your name again?" I believe that window is about 1 day, but I've been getting by for the past 2 weeks not knowing their names. Before you judge me, I would like to make the disclaimer that I wasn't supposed to be their roommate in the first place. I was supposed to move out, but that keeps being delayed. I have full intention of knowing their names, but have to figure out a sneaky way to do it. Since they are almost always in their rooms or in class, the need to know their names hasn't been as great...until today.

Today, one of my roommates came to one of my Pharm drills. Usually I try to use people's names as much as possible to help me not forget it. People are also looking down or will otherwise blurt out answers, so its another reason for the technique. I knew I couldn't use everyone else's name except for hers, but I also didn't want to admit that I didn't know her name. So I stumbled through the session just kinda staring people down until they recognized they were being asked a question. I did intermittently use other people's names, except for hers. Awkward. So my new priority tomorrow will be to know my roommate's names, even if I'm roommates with them for only a couple more days.