Who is talking…Anyone Listening?

A jolly good morning Funky Folks. It seems like everyone is talking. The thing is there is so much to talk about these days. You know well what the most talked topic is so there’s no point saying anything about the virus floating around as if that would make it go away. “Flatten the curve” is the mantra. You know you can watch a conversation like they do in the “Wire” TV series. Fancy that Funky Folks. See that curve, the tidal wave whatever. Nothing you can do.

We talk about the weather, like every day. It’s a good ice-breaker you know – it helps talking to strangers.

“Cold hey mate, You gotta light for my smoke. The rain put it out…”.

Often a message is relayed, “The weather is brutal today Folks – tornadoes ‘n flooding, freezing rain ice-pellets and a huge dump of snow followed by a heat wave. Best you don’t venture out today”. That’s enough to send you into isolation in the bombproof basement.

Ohh Funky Folks haven’t we heard this message recently, incessently and ad infinitum. “Keep you distance from others”. This, dear Funky Folks will solve the population problem. It will flatten the curve.

If it weren’t for cell-phones things would be bleak. They make life exciting. Can you believe Funky Folks in the nearby grocery store we overheard this one, “Look Harry I’ve had enough of you. You’re a rotter. We are through. You hear me. It’s over. Good bye”. This was accompanied with much gesticulating in the vegetable section, waving a carrot as if orchestrating every word. Goodness me Funky Folks is there no privacy.

Cell phone talk goes on everywhere – on the golf course when a crucial putt is taking place, in the car in heavy traffic, on the throne, an opera house or a wedding reception.

Talking of reception I wonder Funky Folks if anyone is listening, really listening. Of course we don’t listen to calls from scammers. Heavens I received two calls from Burundi this morning – had to use a map.

In the olden days I remember the party lines where the receptionists plugged the line from incoming calls into a slot in an array of slots on a board in front of them. If the receptionists did not really listen you could find yourself talking to a stranger… “Hello there. Sorry there’s a crackle on the line. Ohh you calling from Burundi”. Click.

“Excuse me Funky Folks I need to call my lawyer…to rest my case.

#writingcommunity