Comments on: Happy Happenstance at King Street Metro

By: monica

monica — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 19:35:39 +0000

I think this occurs more often than you think. I often get stopped on the street — usually to provide directions for confused tourists, but also by people who compliment my hair or bag or shoes.

Last Saturday an 82-year-old woman asked me for directions to the Hotel Harrington. Since I was going to the Barnes and Noble on 12th Street, I offered to walk her. Turns out she was visiting from Brooklyn, lived for a time near the town I grew in in southeastern Massachusetts, and has a granddaughter who attends my alma mater – Syracuse University.

Yankee folk aren’t necessarily cold, just a little leery of being approached by "crackheads and hustlers."

By: Julia Frey

Julia Frey — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:30:50 +0000

Glad to hear you haven’t given up the pay it forward thing….even after your time in NY and MA. Life is too short not to say nice things to strangers, I think. Isn’t that what these series of tubes are all about on another level? Connecting?

Have I had too much wine tonight?

I love your font by the way, you wear it well…

By: Carl Weaver

Carl Weaver — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:50:18 +0000

Thanks, Julia! I used to do this all the time until I spent eight years in upstate NY and central MA, where people are rather cold and I was surrounded by crackheads and hustlers and it was better to keep to myself.

I do this type of thing more now that I am at least bordering the South, where it’s acceptable. It’s good to know that others are doing it too.

By: Julia Frey

Julia Frey — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:39:25 +0000

I actually do this all the time. If I see someone wearing something nice I will stop and compliment them. Or I’ll chat up cashiers or other people in line in a store if there is something interesting to comment on. I’m usually amazed that people are almost taken aback that I’ve said something and now I do it 90% for the sincerity of the compliment or chat and 10% just to see what kind of reaction I get.

Pay that compliment and nice conversation forward, Carl!