This and That: It's Good To Talk
Elsie Eva delights in conversations with her neighbours as they ride the bus into town.
During my working years, we sometimes had so much snow that I could not get my car out of the garage. Consequently, I would be forced into a journey on foot or by bus.
As this happened only infrequently, it could be accepted philosophically - an inconvenience rightly considered, as G.K.Chesterton would say.
Shanks’ Pony was no doubt providing some well-needed exercise, albeit involuntarily taken.
On such cold mornings, the arrival of a bus was a welcome sight. Into the warmth I would go, instantly becoming part of the community, sharing the same hardships. How different from my usual lonely journey, alone in my car.
My fellow-passengers and I were all in the same boat, so to speak, experiencing a shared difficulty. And so we talked - and joked about our situation. Great stuff!
Nowadays, I use public transport on a regular basis, not wishing to waste my bus pass. I enjoy these journeys into town. We have a regular bus driver who cares about his passengers. If he sees you running for the bus, he will wait for you. He is courteous, friendly and helpful.
There is always a friendly atmosphere on our little bus and we do talk to one another. With lots of conversations going on at the same time, it can get a little noisy - far better than everyone sitting in stony silence.
I understand that people do not speak to fellow-passengers on London’s Underground transport, or even look at one another. What a waste, it seems to me.
Some years ago, my mother was staying with relatives in Croydon. Out one morning, on the way to the shops, she passed one of the neighbours. As was her usual custom, my mother called out, “Good morning. Lovely day isn’t it?”
The woman was mystified and turned back, saying to my mother, “What did you say?” Apparently, it was not the done thing to speak to one another, not even close neighbours. However, I understand that after this, regular exchanges of pleasantries took place.
At High School, my friend and I could never understand how a certain girl in our form was such a hit with the opposite sex. Consequently, she had lots of dates with lots of boys, where we had little or no success in that direction.
She was no great beauty. However, unlike us, she was greatly endowed in the breast department. We, of course, were envious, on both fronts (no pun intended!). We were convinced that the only reason for such popularity was her large bust.
All those years ago, it never occurred to us that her popularity owed much to the ease with which she could converse with the opposite sex. In contrast, I was always tongue-tied with boys.
I’m happy to say that for many years now my tongue has been untied.
