Mr Mascellani's Musings

Really

There was a time when I met up with an old work friend for lunch. When the lunch was over, we walked
back together to our respective workplaces. At the point at which we had to part company, my friend
touched my hand and said, "It's been ages since I've had a deep and meaningful conversation, thank you"..
I thanked her for the complement and went back to work.


The problem with her complement was that I had been trying to make small talk, not be 'deep and
meaningful'. I was, am, and probably never will be any good at making small talk; so, I had been
practising. And I had thought had really nailed it with my friend. I can't even remember what we
spoke about, she and I. As far I was concerned, our conversation consisted of the banalities that
are the very stuff of small talk.

I considered asking her what she thought had been so 'D&M?about our conversation. I decided against
it because I figured it was an insulting question.

I mention this because this sort of thing happens quite a lot. I am no orator, and I feel that I don't say
anything noteworthy. Yet, I'll have people quote stuff that I said in conversations back to me; sometimes
these conversations occurred years prior.

"David, I'll never forget what you said to me, back in 1997, you said, blah,blah, blah?

"Really? Did I say that?"

"Yes."

"I'll have to remember that."

But I never do.