random dialogue
I'm not one to strike up random conversations with strangers. It's just not my nature. Whether I'm on a plane or waiting for the bus, I tend to keep to myself. Often, I'm so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I forget that I'm surrounded by people. Friends who see me walking down the street usually have to make a concerted attempt to get my attention because otherwise I'm oblivious to their presence.
Despite my tendencies to be contained within my own mental bubble, I had two atypical encounters with strangers this past weekend.
relaying the message
(A bus stop in downtown Vancouver on a busy street, early on a sunny autumn afternoon. I'm standing at the bus stop, getting impatient because the #20 bus is late and I'm late. Tall girl in long summer dress approaches, Blackberry in hand.)
Tall girl: I'm trying to send a text, but I can't spell relayed. R-I- (trails off)
Me: Relay?
Tall girl: You know, like, um, relaying a message?
Me: Yeah
Tall girl: Do you know?
Me: R-E-L-
Tall girl: Hang on... R-E-L-? (thumbs frantically typing)
Me: A-Y-E-D (glancing up the street to see if the bus is coming yet)
Tall girl: (more frantic typing) Yes! That's right!
Me: Yes, it is.
Tall girl: Thanks! (yelling over her shoulder as she runs up the street)
Me: No worries (looking up street, still no sign of the #20)
diversifying diet
(At the local fruit and veggie store late on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The small, cramped store is very crowded. I'm scanning the veggie counter for potential ingredients for the roasted veggies I plan to make for dinner. My basket contains carrots and a sweet potato and I reach for a bulb of fennel. A twentysomething guy wearing hipster glasses standing beside me looks over.)
Hipster guy: What are those?
Me: Oh, fennel. Fennel bulbs
Hipster guy: How do you eat them? (quizzical look on his face)
Me: It has a light licorice flavour. You can chop them up fine and put them in salads or you can roast them. But you want to cut this part off (pointing to the stems) because they're tough. But you can keep these bits (pointing at the dill-like fronds)
Hipster guy: Oh, thanks. I'm trying to diversify and try new vegetables. Those looked interesting.
Me: Oh, well, have a good evening (I put a fennel bulb in my basket, hipster guy grabs a turnip)
