Observations of a People Watcher
A longish story about the vagaries of human nature....Part 1: Some years ago I bought a new (to me) car, on credit, because my Mum had cancer and I did not know if she would get over it. I wanted to give her some good times. To celebrate I took her to visit some old friends who had moved away and were living in Leicester. They suggested that she might like to stay with them for a holiday. It sounded wonderful, but their car had just failed its MOT, and it was not worth repairing, so they had no car to take her sightseeing. The next day we were talking and I said, use my car. I phoned the insurance and arranged cover. Deal done. Mum was staying a fortnight in Leicester, and so was my new car, and I was going home on the train. When I went to work the next day, one of my colleagues was astonished that I trusted them enough to let them have my NEW CAR. I was also astonished. I said "You ask me why I trust them with my CAR? I trust them with my MOTHER! A car is just a bit of metal!"
She seemed bemused at my point of view.
Part 2: When I was due to collect Mum, a friend offered to take me to save me the train journey. I knew he was very nervous with strangers, so I was very impressed that he was willing to make the effort. Later, we were eating a meal with them and he, very nervous, asked how long they had lived in Leicester. Just over five years, was the reply. I could tell it had not sunk in, due to the stranger anxiety! Sure enough, ten minutes later,the same question "How long have you lived here?" The reply? "Just about ten minutes more than the last time you asked."
Yes, it WAS funny, but I was surprised that he had not picked up on the nervousness of their visitor.
Words by Marie Cadavieco
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Written on 2019-07-28 at 14:51
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