Do you think I’m a desperate woman? Does that mean I would be a desperate housewife? A desperate gardener? A desperate chicken mama?
Vince told me he thinks I look like a desperate woman because everywhere we go lately, some older (as in grandpa’s age) man strikes up a conversation with me. The other night it happened in Wal-Mart but today it happened in Tractor Supply. I was looking at magazines and this older gentleman about 80 years old came up to the magazines and looked at the magazines, then looked at me. He didn’t look scary and Vince was just a couple of rows from me so I wasn’t concerned. I surely didn’t plan on having a 30 minute conversation with the guy though.
Pa: You got a farm?
Me: No, not really.
Pa: Where do you work?
Me: I don’t work.
Pa: You got any old tractors?
Me: Nope. We have a tractor but we bought it recently.
Pa: Do you know Sally . . somebody?
Me: No, we haven’t lived here very long. I don’t know many people.
Pa: Where you from?
Me: Louisiana
Pa: I like antique tractors.
Me: Really?
Pa: I had a Chevy SS with a 357 when I was young. Now that car could go!
Me: Hmmm . .
Pa: Do you have any land at all?
Me: A little less than 50 acres.
Pa: You got any tanks on your property?
Me: No tanks.
Pa: You got any cattle?
Me: There’s some on our land but they don’t belong to us.
Pa: You got any horses?
Me: Nope . . all we have are chickens and one dog.
Thankfully, Vince walked up about that time. The man started talking to Vince, who doesn’t respond to questions like I do. I always feel bad and think people need someone to talk to.
There’s a reason why I stay home!
Sharon Eshlaman says
Better check your back – maybe Vince put a sign on your back that says “Talk to me, I’m lonley” . You’re funny. I would think your face looks approachable and kind. Nobody strikes up a conversation with someone who has a scowl on their face.
Roberta says
He thought you were a cute young chick to chat up. 😉
Hugs!!!!
Gwen says
I think you have a friendly face that someone lonely turns to for a few minutes. Someone might not have anyone to talk to at home and just need a few minutes with another person.
Helen says
This happens to me all the time!!!! I think it’s my aura, and I believe your aura can change from time to time.
I also feel it’s the kind thing to do…to chat to a friendly and most-likely a bit lonely stranger. As long as I don’t feel threatened or put upon, I think it’s a kindness. Sharing a little joy is a great gift.
Regina says
LOL – my problem when I am out shopping is that everyone comes up to me and starts acting questions like I work there. I know I need to be careful about wearing red shirts and khakis to Target – but me in my jeans and orange crocs and fleece pullover – c’mon….?
kelly says
tell Vince you look like a CONFIDENT woman, not a desperate one!
Carolyn says
Oh I think, I think he was Hitting on you! If Vince hadn’t walked up , he might have asked you for coffee sometime.
Helen Koenig1 says
LOL – yup – that’s it! Judy the desperate woman! I can see it all now – complete with signs everywhere! ROFLOL!
I used to say that would happen to me because I had a cocker spaniel attitude – people (who I never met before – or since) would walk up to me and seriously unload all their problems! NO idea why – unless it was the attitude!
But – maybe it is a sign of our times – when we are all so busy with I-pod this and that and cell phones chit chatting away that people don’t really connect – at least not in person and all the cell phones, etc. do is sort of distance others from ourselves.
Barbara says
From the conversation you posted, it looks to me like he was just looking for something to say that might keep you engaged in conversation.
I live in a retirement area and see it a lot.
One elderly gentleman asked the nurse to please give him a hug before he left….and she did.
Many are just lonely and looking for a kind person to talk to even if only for a few minutes.
Kate says
But you DO have tanks… Water tank, propane tank, Etc.
Did you think he was asking about military tanks? Oops, better not give Vince any ideas.
Diana in RR, TX says
For some reason tanks are what we call ponds everywhere else. It was strange to us to learn that when we moved to Texas.
Helen Koenig1 says
Ahhh – NOW I’ve got it! This gentleman was being friendly and was hoping you had “tanks” or ponds – preferably with FISH in them! He wanted permission to fish in them!!!!!! And that’s a request I used to get A LOT when I lived on the farm!
Judy D in WA says
Hahahaha, you and Ernie! People do that to him all the time.
Brandy M. says
You, a desperate woman? No way! Him, a desperate and perhaps lonely man? Maybe! Sounds like he was just maybe trying to make a friend and/or just a nice conversation with a person who looked friendly.
So, if you ever DO become desperate (as IF!), at least you know you can go down to the Tractor Supply!
🙂
Diana says
Oh man I am glad there is someone else in this world that it happens to. Hubby tells me I am, a magnet for old men to come up and talk to me. Never fails, I tell him well maybe they just needed someone to brighten their day !LOL
Jean Whitcomb says
I think you DO look like a nice person. Also, I discovered in my 40’s (I’m 70 now) that a lot of elderly are very lonely and isolated. I was waiting at the bus stop to go downtown and two ladies talked my ear off. One woman hadn’t ventured downtown (Seattle) for over a year because someone had bumped her and knocked her into a parking meter and broken her arm.
I live with and care for a disabled 70 year old man who has short term memory loss but also likes to talk a lot.. I realized recently that he’s trapped in his head. He can’t remember what happened two hours ago or yesterday, so I hear the same stories over and over and over. We went to visit my youngest brother and he was ecstatic because he had a new audience and knew Rick had never heard his stories.
My father had advanced dementia for years before he died and one day we visited the neighborhood that he’s grown up in. I really appreciated the clerks who took time to listen to him.–Jean
Kim Paventy says
I bet he was just a lonely old man and you have a kind face . We have older men in our small town that walk around talking to folks , some of the shop feepers even have set up chairs for them.
Susan says
I’m telling you, Judy, you have to leave that sign at home when you go out! The one that says, “Talk to me, I’m so interested in everything you have to say.” =) I do the same thing. I can’t bear to hurt someone’s feelings, because I think they ARE lonely. All their friends are probably long gone. I could be there someday, and I hope someone will be kind to me when I am.
Joanna Guglielmino says
Judy,
“Pa: Where do you work?
Me: I don’t work.”
What?? You don’t work?? I get fatigued just seeing how much you accomplish every day!
Joanna
Linddylou says
Judy,
I think Pa was lonesome and needed someone to talk to, maybe Ma wasn’t around anymore.
End of Story.
Patricia L. says
I either look helpful, approachable or informative because people always ask me if I know where they can find something. I usually do. LOL