At the grocery store today I met an older gentleman

[java]

That was talking and talking and talking to me about his silicone bundt pan. He was really sweet and I didn't have the heart to say - "OK got to go now"
But this was a stranger chatting me up in the grocery store. And someone at the end of the aisle after I got away said "He really loves that pan"


Now I stayed listening to him because my Dad once said to me that some days the only person he spoke to was the check out girl in the grocery store. So I was thinking I might be this guys person. Then again I doubt it!

So do you talk to the chatters in the store?

 

[THE HAT]

This is the story of my life.....my dh thinks it is just a riot that it happens to me all the time. Doesn't matter where we are, what I am doing....I must just have that friendly face, but I know that if I am going into a store I will be stopped by somebody (90% of the time elderly) and will lose 15-20 min while they "chat" with me.

I have learned some interesting things and some things that I would be much better of having never known, lol.

 

[KSchwagg86]

Yes I do-sometimes you meet some really great people! And what's a few extra minutes when you are being friendly to someone else?

 

[crazyme5kids]

All the time. I must have some sort of chatters mark on my head, I get stopped by people everywhere. My kids hate it.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I do....but sometimes I wish I didn't.

 

[princess momma]

We live close to a retirement community and almost daily I find myself chatting with someone who's walking around the block. They pet my dog, ask me about my kids, tell me about their family. I really like that I can give a few minutes to someone who might be a little lonely.

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

This happens to my Mom all the time! I will be w/her at the mall, out to dinner, at WDW, on a walk.....Older people seem to really like her. She always listens to them because she thinks when she is old, she might want to talk to people like that too.

 

[Disney Doll]

I am quite sure that somewhere on my forehead the words "Talk to me" are stamped because I get chatterers all the time.

I just remember a saying I read...maybe here on the DIS...

"Be kinder than necessary...everyone is fighting some sort of battle".

Like you said, maybe you are the only live person that person has spoken to all day. They may be lonely, they may have no one. And, since DH & I don't have kids, it may be me someday....

 

[pigletgirl]

Yep, it happens quite frequently here.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

When I said sometimes I wish I didn't, I wasn't thinking of elderly people (I tend to learn from them.) I was thinking of a time that I was sitting at the bar with my friend and a lady who was a stay-at-home mom with two teenage daughters was sitting next to me (it was a holiday and I guess she had a few minutes out of the house.) All she could talk about was one daughter's ballet, the other's tennis, and the skin cancer surgery she'd had where they removed most of the back of her hand.....that had to be the most boring 45 minutes I've ever spent but she'll never know I felt that way.

 

[TwingleMum]

That was talking and talking and talking to me about his silicone bundt pan. He was really sweet and I didn't have the heart to say - "OK got to go now"
But this was a stranger chatting me up in the grocery store. And someone at the end of the aisle after I got away said "He really loves that pan"


Now I stayed listening to him because my Dad once said to me that some days the only person he spoke to was the check out girl in the grocery store. So I was thinking I might be this guys person. Then again I doubt it!

So do you talk to the chatters in the store?

Very sweet of you. Paying it forward isn't always dramatic sometimes its small kindnesses. Good for you!

 

[paintnolish]

DS is the chatter! We call him the little old man or future Walmart greeter. He sriously loves to chat with people about all sorts of things. We stood in line for 3 hours for the H1N1 shot last week and he made friends with an older lady behind us. He is a good conversationalist and doesn't chat with adults about kid stuff (cartoons, toys, etc.). At one point I told him to "take a talking break" but the lady said he was fine!

 

[NC State]

That was talking and talking and talking to me about his silicone bundt pan. He was really sweet and I didn't have the heart to say - "OK got to go now"
But this was a stranger chatting me up in the grocery store. And someone at the end of the aisle after I got away said "He really loves that pan"


Now I stayed listening to him because my Dad once said to me that some days the only person he spoke to was the check out girl in the grocery store. So I was thinking I might be this guys person. Then again I doubt it!

So do you talk to the chatters in the store?

You made his day just taking a few mintues with him....I'm sure he was happy that you were there.

 

[PrincessParty]

There is a little old man that I see all over town, he will stop you, chat, and give you a lifesaver. (individually wrapped) He will tell you that he was married for 60 years when his wife died and she told him to get out and talk to people. They never had children so I thank him for the lifesaver and chat for a few minutes. He reminds me to slow down and remember what is important in life.

 

[Feralpeg]

I am a chatter!

 

[NMAmy]

All the time. I've met a lot of really nice people when they strike up a conversation.

The cashiers at the grocery store and at Target all know me by name, too.

Honestly, I don't instigate these conversations but apparently, people correctly assume that I will happily chat with them.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes - and I've learned some fascinating things.. I've also found that if you listen carefully, you can usually tell if the person is just a "chatty" person or someone who is lonely (possibly lives alone) and just has a need to make verbal contact with another human being..

I especially enjoy chatting with the elderly.. For the most part they have such a wonderful outlook on life..

 

[OceanAnnie]

It happens to me too. Last week this old guy stopped me in a parking lot and made some comments to me about someone's bumper sticker. He went on and on about it. He told me he was going to be 90 soon. Cute old fellow. Had a cane, and looked a little bit like Mr. Magoo. Finally, I told him he should be careful about his comments, he might stop someone that agrees with that bumper sticker, and there are crazy people in the world. He asked me why do you think I carry a cane? And smiled. I told him good bye, be careful, and wear a coat.

I also seem to attract people that are looking for things in stores and need directions. I don't know why.

 

[chell]

Someone like him I would have kept talking to. He's probably lonely. But I just love older people. There is so much we can learn from them. Just think of everything they have seen and done. Think of all their experiences. They are fascinating.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I'm a magnet for people like this. Every where I go, they find me.