talking to strangers
i think one of the most ironic things to happen in the age of the smartphone is that we are more disconnected from each other as ever. sure, there was a time that we weren’t instantaneously available to anyone at all times, thats true. am i reminiscining on a time i didnt live through and dont understand? ye, and that has its own ironies. i know for sure though that people used to have to look up when they walk on the street, they used to make small talk on the elevator, they were forced to engage. whats happening now, the increased levels of isolated that we’re seeing is the product of an innovation made to bring us together at its core.
okay, why am i talking about this?
10ft away from me is this girl. and im not interested in her in any romantic way although she is very pretty. i just have this story ive been wanting to tell her for a very long time now.
here it is:
one day, i was sitting on the couch (in valentine commons lobby) reading a news paper. i was reading through and i got to this one article that caught my attention. it was about the overconsumption of caffeine (and energy drinks) during exam season. and i was like damn i do that and it gets bad. i would buy 2 or 3 monster energy drinks in freshman year and spend all night working on assignments or studying. very germane.
well i looked at the writer of that article, and she looked really familiar. in fact, i was pretty sure id seen her every time id been to cup a joe. i was like huh, i wonder what that girl is doing right now. and in through the left, of me in walks a girl. at first i just go back to reading, but then i do a double take, and then a triple take, and it was you. and it just felt magically cosmically dumb. for whatever reason, i didnt run up to her then and tell you the story.
and i saw her a good dozen times since then and i didnt tell her that story. always some excuse. and here it is, the perfect opportunity to go talk to her right now and tell her that story.
what am i so scared of?
fuck it ima do it.
many many many many hours later.
i did it, she was incredibly gracious and open to the conversation. like i said, i wasn’t really looking to hit on her, i genuinely would just see her around and wanted to tell her that story. if nothing else i think she’ll remember that i appreciated her writing and remembered her specifically.
it was nice meeting you today, sophia :)
186 - 09/21/2025