tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post2691166541686246112..comments2024-03-29T08:14:33.384-04:00Comments on I Think; Therefore, I Yam: On Being AloneSusan Flett Swiderskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-51350943585739989922019-08-29T13:09:53.480-04:002019-08-29T13:09:53.480-04:00You're right. Check-out lines provide great op...You're right. Check-out lines provide great opportunities to chat... and not just with other customers. Most cashiers welcome friendly overtures, too.<br /><br />I like the idea of those benches, too. :)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-13155257476528206862019-08-29T03:24:59.428-04:002019-08-29T03:24:59.428-04:00Very recently I was in the checkout line at Walmar...Very recently I was in the checkout line at Walmart, had placed my purchases on the conveyor belt toward the register and, from old habit, pulled a divider from its race and placed it behind my groceries. There was a man I'd never met, about my age (+/- 70) behind me who said "thanks!". I looked back and gave that crinkly-eyed nod geezers give each other and noticed his smiling blue eyes. He then said,"Ah, how are the kids?" I replied, "All grown up." He said, "So it goes." There's an element of surprise and connection in checkout lines, but I sure like the bench idea.Geo.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16221314320558128986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-71957737610843707142019-08-28T11:17:45.895-04:002019-08-28T11:17:45.895-04:00Agreed... mostly. Walking on super hot sand in bar...Agreed... mostly. Walking on super hot sand in bare feet isn't a walk in the park...Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-39631216668888770992019-08-27T13:40:46.714-04:002019-08-27T13:40:46.714-04:00Ah.... nothing like a solitary walk on the beach.Ah.... nothing like a solitary walk on the beach.Haddockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11573906991666088642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-3692639292014498622019-08-26T16:02:48.932-04:002019-08-26T16:02:48.932-04:00Me, too. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the ...Me, too. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. :)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-62548585037542229382019-08-26T14:57:48.607-04:002019-08-26T14:57:48.607-04:00The chat benches are a simple but creative solutio...The chat benches are a simple but creative solution to a growing problem of isolation in our society. I love this idea. I hope it spreads.Conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03865193802444007545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-22855835591125064972019-08-26T11:56:07.497-04:002019-08-26T11:56:07.497-04:00Hey, if you have your dog with you, you aren't...Hey, if you have your dog with you, you aren't alone! (Dogs are people, too, ya know.)<br /><br />I try NOT to listen to the cellphone conversations going on around me, but sometimes it's hard to ignore them. I reeeeally hate when someone behind me says an enthusiastic, "Hiiiii!" and I turn around with a big smile on my face, thinking they're talking to me... NOT! (Darned cellphones!)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-62703652632147580502019-08-26T11:53:11.645-04:002019-08-26T11:53:11.645-04:00HA! Love it!HA! Love it!Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-70734102687447756892019-08-26T07:03:13.410-04:002019-08-26T07:03:13.410-04:00I've just taken my Oxymoron exam. I think I di...I've just taken my Oxymoron exam. I think I did terribly well...bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794010156639774028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-92110551412670811662019-08-25T14:22:20.021-04:002019-08-25T14:22:20.021-04:00I'm happiest when I'm alone (as long as I ...I'm happiest when I'm alone (as long as I have my dog!) but I'll also strike up a conversation with a stranger, compliment people I don't know on their footwear, hairstyle, or what have you. Thankfully I wasn't raised with a cell phone (or even a computer of any kind!!!) so if that top picture had included me, I'd be the one watching all the other people and secretly listening in on their conversations ;)mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-17305707289649982632019-08-25T12:32:53.812-04:002019-08-25T12:32:53.812-04:00"Lonely crowd"... isn't that a delic..."Lonely crowd"... isn't that a delicious oxymoron? Great reference. (Yeah, I'm a Dylan fan.)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-41425001373866017102019-08-25T12:23:34.650-04:002019-08-25T12:23:34.650-04:00Hi-ya, Hilary. I'm so glad you made it by to s...Hi-ya, Hilary. I'm so glad you made it by to see this post, because I had a feeling you'd be thrilled about this particular "Brit thing." I also had a feeling that you're the kind of person who doesn't need a chat bench to inspire you to chat with other people. :)<br /><br />Cheers back atcha. Well, I dunno how entertaining we are, but we try!Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-41293313006438973592019-08-25T12:13:37.298-04:002019-08-25T12:13:37.298-04:00Oh dear. I apologize for making you think on a wee...Oh dear. I apologize for making you think on a weekend... HA!<br /><br />Me, too. I hope they pop up all over the world.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-5010039422138818022019-08-25T06:00:11.873-04:002019-08-25T06:00:11.873-04:00"Down here next to me in this lonely crowd
Is..."Down here next to me in this lonely crowd<br />Is a man who swears he's not to blame"<br /> <i>From Bob Dylan's <b>I Shall Be Released</b></i><br />The notion of being lonely in a crowd is a real one. I love being with family and friends (and strangers) but I also enjoy a few hours in my own company most days!<br /><b><a href="http://todiscoverice.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> CLICK HERE for Bazza’s justly jocular Blog ‘To Discover Ice’</a></b>bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794010156639774028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-39549285494153836252019-08-25T05:26:56.996-04:002019-08-25T05:26:56.996-04:00Hi Susan ... so glad to see this ... it must make ...Hi Susan ... so glad to see this ... it must make a big difference - good for Somerset and I see the towns are Burnham and Taunton. I'm happy living alone and get up and go ... but equally always tend to chat to people ... and have amazing connections - always bemuses me. I try and connect with people who are on their own - if I feel like, and I don't always ... but have wonderful stories to tell. <br /><br />Great post - and so pleased to know it's a Brit thing!! Cheers and I'm sure you and Smarticus entertain those around you ... HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-50025247811792548872019-08-24T21:03:42.681-04:002019-08-24T21:03:42.681-04:00This was really a thought-provoking post. Now you&...This was really a thought-provoking post. Now you've got me thinking...<br /><br />I absolutely love the idea of those chat benches!Pixel Peeperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17553862902461169270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-38931759077283882462019-08-24T13:49:40.129-04:002019-08-24T13:49:40.129-04:00There's a big difference between being alone a...There's a big difference between being alone and being lonely. What can I say? Sometimes, a fella's just gotta take a hands-on approach to his entertainment...Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-80830863533136733022019-08-24T13:39:27.296-04:002019-08-24T13:39:27.296-04:00I live alone, but I'm not lonely. I have frie...I live alone, but I'm not lonely. I have friends and I can entertain myself. Well, not by doing THAT. All the time, anyway.Al Penwasserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14052950809151897315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-50150494796517920852019-08-24T13:30:17.903-04:002019-08-24T13:30:17.903-04:00Being shy and a little bit wary of strangers is pr...Being shy and a little bit wary of strangers is probably a wise way to be in today's world, but I've never mastered the skill. <br /><br />I'm reeeeally glad the people in your community are so friendly. It's easier to make connections when the people around you are willing to meet you more than halfway.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-48037376948800534672019-08-24T13:25:22.504-04:002019-08-24T13:25:22.504-04:00Oh, wow. That's just awful! Yes, it WAS their ...Oh, wow. That's just awful! Yes, it WAS their loss.<br /><br />I'm a whiz kid at enjoying retirement, but I still haven't gotten the knack of sleeping late. My body's programmed to wake up way before the butt crack of dawn every day. Naps elude me, too, but my hubby's a real champ. Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-60892761686593906882019-08-24T13:17:40.048-04:002019-08-24T13:17:40.048-04:00I don't know if it's a terrible way to thi...I don't know if it's a terrible way to think or not, but it's a common one. I prefer to expect the best of other people. Sure, I'm disappointed sometimes, but hope springs eternal.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-1667430808813461482019-08-24T13:15:05.242-04:002019-08-24T13:15:05.242-04:00I'm not quite sure how to respond to your comm...I'm not quite sure how to respond to your comment, because I don't know if I agree with it or not. If anything, it's thought-provoking. I do enjoy my own company, but being with other people energizes me... like recharging a battery. And my battery's getting so darned old, maybe it just requires recharging more often than yours. :)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-4933391387959611082019-08-24T13:11:09.201-04:002019-08-24T13:11:09.201-04:00I have a feeling you and my son would get along ju...I have a feeling you and my son would get along just dandy. :)Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-77369572951941786152019-08-24T10:32:15.531-04:002019-08-24T10:32:15.531-04:00lmao I've retorted with something along those ...lmao I've retorted with something along those lines a time or two as well. Or the whole "you're so negative." "Nope. Just realistic because I'm positive it is negative."Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6034142332858737641.post-65683497167248958592019-08-24T10:14:29.997-04:002019-08-24T10:14:29.997-04:00Wonderfully thought-provoking! As a girl I was pai...Wonderfully thought-provoking! As a girl I was painfully shy. So much so, were smart phones available, I'd hide my insecurities behind the screen. LOVE the idea of the 'chat' benches, particularly in large metropolitan areas. (Smiling, on account everyone in our little town is already friendly.) Mevely317https://www.blogger.com/profile/14786988262452989091noreply@blogger.com