The Silence is Deafening

The Silence is Deafening

In my community, some seniors are afforded a cab to take them to and from medical appointments in the event they have no other transportation. Today I had to take that cab to a doctor's visit and a question came to mind as I was sitting in the back seat, looking at the back of the head of the driver, feeling uncomfortable because it was so quiet. Why is it difficult to just accept silence?

I felt that I needed to make conversation with the driver by chatting about the weather. Then I began thinking of other times this awkward silence comes into our lives. Times like waiting in a long line and looking back at the person behind you and you feel the need to make some cute little comment about the clerk. Times like when you push the button to an elevator and someone else comes and pushes it too and there the two of you stand..........aimlessly looking around to cover up the silence. Times like when you are in an elavator and it is just you and another person and you feel compelled to make idle conversation. Times when you are in a waiting room and the person next to you makes eye contact and you feel compelled to tell them your life story up to that moment.

Why do we feel we need to speak instead of just accepting the silence? Maybe it is because that silence makes us feel awkward or vulnerable. Maybe it is because we are social creatures. Maybe because we have so much noise in our lives (radio, TV, phones, neighborhood noises, etc.) that silence feels deafening. Maybe it is a twisted way to take control of the situation by talking to a stranger first, so unconsciously we have made the first move and we are the dominent one in the original order of the pack. This is not to say that responding to a hello or nod from them is the same as feeling you HAVE to find common ground in which to indulge a conversation. Whatever the reason, maybe we should take time to hear the silence, button up our lips and just feel comfortable about it all.

Answer to 2/27's trivia question: Actor George Reeves played the title role in TV's "Superman" show. What role did he play in GWTW? He was one of the Tarleton twins who was seeking Scarlett's attention in the scene at the barbarque where the three of them were on the veranda steps.

Today's trivia question: Who is the cute little character at the top of the page and what TV show did he appear on regularily?

Thought for the Day: "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."- Clarence Darrow