I’ve always LOVED watching people. Perhaps sometimes to a fault and am often accused of “staring” when in truth I just LOVE watching and seeing people interact. I get the biggest kick out of watching guys and girls on what could most likely be identified as a first date or elderly people talking about their time in Vietnam. I love watching the awkwardness that is most apparent when conversations get “dodgy” or when a kid gets “corrected” by a parent and equal to that am IN LOVE with love … I love watching people interact (not just romantic relationships, though I’m a fan of that too) when there’s total respect and complete adoration. Honestly … I could do it for hours and love every second!
As of late I’ve been “holing” up at a local Panera (I literally feel like I should be paying rent for my time and space here) and have been referred to by name on several occasions. Today, in fact one of the workers said “There is a girl who comes in all the time that looks JUST LIKE YOU” … to which I responded … It’s actually just ME … here everyday!
So … while working today, something struck me as odd. It will never compete with rocket science or be eligible for a TedTalk. It’s also something we all already KNOW and witness literally a MILLION times a day, I just happen to feel like highlighting this very obvious thing we all KNOW. That is … dun da dun dun … The different ways men and woman have lunch. This is in NO WAY an attempt to stereotype so please hear me out. Nor does it mean every guy is like this or every girl blah blah blah. I just happen to be sitting across the table from two guys having lunch and two ladies having lunch and couldn’t help but draw comparisons all while staring quite confidently in the direction of both parties. LOL!
While observing the two ladies having lunch it’s obvious they are quite fond of each other. They have a connection that seems to run deep and obviously know a lot about each other’s lives and history and kids and jobs etc. There are lots of laughs about Thanksgiving and the Holiday season … lots of smiles and never once (NOT EVEN CLOSE) a moment of silence. They are high energy and fun to watch … I even caught my own self nodding at a few of their conversation pieces forgetting I’m not actually part of them but responding as though I am.
About two feet from the ladies table are two guys. I would assume they’re here on a lunch break and just as the ladies were comfortable with each other, so are these guys. The only difference is how they interact … thus being the point of the blog! They, the guys, sit down with their lunch … and are virtually silent. THE WHOLE TIME! They’ve picked up their phones a few times, make mention of different work related items and talked briefly about the Broncos game last night. There are awkward stares off in the distance (awkward for the observer anyway (ME) … not necessarily them) followed by silence, the occasional “dusting” of something relatively insignificant, more silence and the suggestion to go as their lunchtime is over. Though equal to the ladies in their adoration / respect for each other found it so fascinating that in both parties the outcome though displayed differently, were the same. Two people, just having lunch, enjoying the company of a friend.
Suffice it to say (though I have no idea what the word Suffice it means … just sounded like a good fit) … I’m either spending WAY too much time by myself lately (LOL) or Men really are from Mars and women from Venus. It’s crazy / awesome how we (men and women) are created the same and are so vastly different. It’s crazy that eating lunch in silence for two guys is completely acceptable and almost desired while to see that happen with two ladies might suggest their distaste for each other. It’s awesome that guys (again NOT ALL) can comb through the weather and sports and the news or kids or spouses or great ideas in 5 sentences or less while gals take at least that amount of time and barely scrape the surface with just one of those topics.
It’s hilarious how linear guy’s conversations are … I liken it walking in a straight line … “How was thanksgiving” “Great” … New Topic.
Ladies … we twist and turn and deviate and forgot the original topic b/c we’ve opened up 10 others. “How was Thanksgiving” “OMG … it was great … we had Peter and Paul and Susan … did you know that Susan was pregnant … she feels so good too … she just started taking this new prenatal yoga class … isn’t it crazy to the there are so many yoga studios open now … sure not like the older days when yoga was only offered at gyms … did you see that Camy is teaching Power Pump now … she was so excited … it was her first real job out of college … we are thrilled for her … I’ve only taken her class once … I need to start going again … I’m really starting to feel the extra Holiday weight creeping on … I tried making a green salad for TDay but just couldn’t resist the pumpkin pie” etc etc etc.
Guys … question / answer. Straight line. Ladies … Question / 10 answers and the introduction to a thousand other topics. Curvy road.
Needless to say I’ve not “crack a code” but maybe for the first time in awhile, found delight once again in something very simple … men and woman having lunch.
It’s the small things really!
Like appreciating men and woman alike …
Like watching people connecting with people over lunch …
Like Panera Bread not kicking me out … yet … and providing the perfect content while giving my brain a much deserved break from the norm!
XoXo
oneblessedgirl555 