meaningless words
exchanged at the grocery store
human interaction?
NOTES
Ugh, the endless drivel we are expected to spew at each other in social situations. I suppose this chitchat is there to remind each other that we recognize ourselves as humans, and, more importantly, as humans in society with one another, and, dammit, there are social norms we must conform with!
On this day I’d been to Jerry’s Food Store in Island Falls, Maine, and had participated in conversation with the cashier. Now, let me say that up here in New England, the expectation of an exchange of pleasantries is much lower than in my previous home in San Antonio, Texas, and I applaud that! Let me also say that, to be fair, I am somewhat often the one initiating the pleasantries — I guess out of habit, although there is consider the fact that during the off-season here in Island Falls the only human interaction I get is with Fálki, and while the pleasantries I exchange with her are usually quite pleasant indeed, I may on some level have a need or desire for interaction with others.
Whatever the reason for my sparking a conversation with the cashier on that day, at the very least it spawned this haiku.