This evening I went over to The Club for Happy Hour and had the opportunity to sit with my little friend, Penny, and another little friend, Jackie. Both these ladies are so petite, they hardly make a shadow. Penny used to live on the property and would share fun at the pool but moved further away from 'us' to Middleburg. There were several other ladies as well, those whom I get to see around the pool at times.
A Friday night poolside with Maggie O., Penny (see how teeny she is?); my sister, Kerry; Sharon, Ellen, and Maureen (2010)
Wednesdays are my only chances to see Penny, and then most of the time, we are seated in our assigned seats, too far apart to talk. Hugh and Maureen are gone on a trip so we sat anywhere we wished, and Penny summoned me over to be next to her.
We talked about books, about trips, and golfing (I can listen if not participate, right?), and "The Rules of Civility". The ladies like to swap books between themselves, mainly fiction reading, but one struck my fancy. The novel is about the South, I believe, and references the rules of civility, and in the back of the book is included G. Washington's "Rules of Civility"! I had purchased that for Justin a couple years ago for his birthday and he loved it. I put my name on the list as one of those to borrow this novel at some point.
Other 'rules' not written by G.W. were about folks being annoyed by those who are so interested or distracted with their electronic devices. The ladies shared stories of their frustration with bosses, people with whom they've made appointments, or for meetings, or going on golf outings, who cannot put the phone down or stop playing a game long enough to engage.
Penny related a case where a carload of ladies was heading somewhere to play golf and she was in the backseat with a lady who was playing a goofy game. She did not exchange conversation with the others but the game made incessant bings. At last Penny had had it and told the lady, "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to put that phone away...you're making me crazy!" A lady in the front seat said, "Thank you for that!". I asked if the woman playing her game was upset and Penny said, "I don't know, and I don't care!"
Others told stories of being summoned for a meeting with the boss and having to wait while they finish a phone call or something. Even though it likely was a business call, you don't have people idly waiting around while you finish your call. I told the story of Sunday's lunch at Chili's when the couple with a baby across from us propped a cell phone up so their toddler could watch cartoons from the high chair. Start 'em young to be addicted to the screens!
I enjoy my screens as well, make no mistake, but I don't substitute playing games for conversation. The only game I play is solitaire which I am doing when watching TV or just passing time, not in lieu of conversation, for sure. Being a multi-tasker, I can watch TV and play cards at the same time, or even listen to Justin and play at the same time. Tee hee hee....I only have to say "Uh huh" or "Oh, I see..." every now and again.
Two of the ladies in our group are in the medical field, two are retired (besides me) but were professionals. They understand full well the benefit of personal interaction instead of the impersonal communication people have now. I feel sorry for folks who forget the sound of each other's voices...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1g3Y2y89EU
This is how the subject actually came up around our table, when I mentioned watching this video earlier in the day. Most impactful!
We talked about books, about trips, and golfing (I can listen if not participate, right?), and "The Rules of Civility". The ladies like to swap books between themselves, mainly fiction reading, but one struck my fancy. The novel is about the South, I believe, and references the rules of civility, and in the back of the book is included G. Washington's "Rules of Civility"! I had purchased that for Justin a couple years ago for his birthday and he loved it. I put my name on the list as one of those to borrow this novel at some point.
Other 'rules' not written by G.W. were about folks being annoyed by those who are so interested or distracted with their electronic devices. The ladies shared stories of their frustration with bosses, people with whom they've made appointments, or for meetings, or going on golf outings, who cannot put the phone down or stop playing a game long enough to engage.
Penny related a case where a carload of ladies was heading somewhere to play golf and she was in the backseat with a lady who was playing a goofy game. She did not exchange conversation with the others but the game made incessant bings. At last Penny had had it and told the lady, "I'm sorry, but you're going to have to put that phone away...you're making me crazy!" A lady in the front seat said, "Thank you for that!". I asked if the woman playing her game was upset and Penny said, "I don't know, and I don't care!"
Others told stories of being summoned for a meeting with the boss and having to wait while they finish a phone call or something. Even though it likely was a business call, you don't have people idly waiting around while you finish your call. I told the story of Sunday's lunch at Chili's when the couple with a baby across from us propped a cell phone up so their toddler could watch cartoons from the high chair. Start 'em young to be addicted to the screens!
I enjoy my screens as well, make no mistake, but I don't substitute playing games for conversation. The only game I play is solitaire which I am doing when watching TV or just passing time, not in lieu of conversation, for sure. Being a multi-tasker, I can watch TV and play cards at the same time, or even listen to Justin and play at the same time. Tee hee hee....I only have to say "Uh huh" or "Oh, I see..." every now and again.
Two of the ladies in our group are in the medical field, two are retired (besides me) but were professionals. They understand full well the benefit of personal interaction instead of the impersonal communication people have now. I feel sorry for folks who forget the sound of each other's voices...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1g3Y2y89EU
This is how the subject actually came up around our table, when I mentioned watching this video earlier in the day. Most impactful!
