I went to get my passport renewed today. Things got a little uncomfortable. Mostly because I’m fairly certain the woman behind the counter was actually trying to not like me. I also may have brought a touch too much perk to the occasion.
Which reminded me of this special little story:
One time, I was at dinner with ilivedwithironyandsurvived and her all-business-all-day father (ABADF), when I decided to cut the pre-meal-arrival silence with a few anecdotes from my errand-filled day. As I trotted them through a play-by-play of my adventures, from grocery store to post office with a quick pop into the bank and a stop at the shoe repair, ABADF…just…stared. Body unmoving, expression quizzical.
…Right.
I decided to shake that off and forge ahead, attention obviously now focused toward the other side of the table. At the close of my rapturous tales, ilivedwithironyandsurvived and I were doubled up with laughter when ABADF raised his palm just slightly to halt the amusement. Amusement immediately complied. There was a lengthy pause as he considered his words. My eyes widened in anxious anticipation, ilivedwithironyandsurvived's found themselves staring down at a suddenly enthralling plate setting. SOMUCHQUIET.
And then he spoke. Slowly and carefully.
ABADF: So you really enjoy that, huh?
Apparently, my good-natured glee had sort of bubbled out along with my words.
Me: What do you mean?
ABADF: Those mundane tasks. Those endlessly annoying things people actually pay other people to do for them. You enjoy…that.
Silence. Another lengthy pause. I swallowed loudly.
Me: I mean, it sounds less entertaining when you put it like that, but kind of, I guess.
I then attempted to explain how I love the fact that you never know exactly what you’re going to get in those places - how it’s sort of a smorgasbord of characters, personalities and personal histories, and how that can lead to really interesting interactions/or hilarious stories. And then I floundered for a few minutes at the end, just for good measure.
ABADF nodded to himself for a moment, chewing on my earnest zeal while frowning into his chin.
…
ABADF: Fascinating.
…
I didn’t share any more stories that night.