There are certain lunches where Caitlin and I both choose to read while eating; we speak periodically, sharing excerpts from our books, but generally just read until one of us notices that over an hour has elapsed. Today was one of those days. However, after being seated and reading for about twenty minutes, a woman approached us.
“Sorry to interrupt,” she began enthusiastically. “I just wanted to tell you girls that I think it is so neat that you are comfortable enough to just sit together and read without talking!”
Caitlin and I both smiled sweetly.
“We’ve known each other since seventh grade,” I explained. The woman smiled, nodded, and returned to her table.
“AND,” I continued, “I’ve completely lost interest in anything she has to say.”
On this thoughtful note, I’m going to get up now (it’s only been two hours!) and begin working on a research proposal that was assigned in January. Thank you for the laughs this afternoon. I especially appreciated the one that caused me to reverse snort when my laugh seemingly got caught in my sinuses (I know you know the sound). It startled at least three people in the computer lab with me and led to my intense humiliation… and newfound interest in the appealing practice of self-flagellation for my egregious impropriety.