Erma Bombeck once said..

[certainthings]

Erma Bombeck:

There were thirty whole beautiful minutes before my plane took off ... time for me to be alone with my own thoughts, to open a book and let my mind wander. A voice next to me belonging to an elderly woman said, "I'll bet it's cold in Chicago."
Stone-faced, I answered, "It's likely."
"I haven't been to Chicago in nearly three years," she persisted. "My son lives there."
"That's nice," I said, my eyes intent on the printed page of the book.
"My husband's body is on the plane. We've been married for fifty-three years. I don't drive, you know, and when he died a nun drove me from the hospital. We aren't even Catholic. The funeral director let me come to the airport with him."

I don't think I have ever detested myself more than I did at that moment. Another human being was screaming to be heard and in desperation had turned to a cold stranger who was more interested in a novel than the real-life drama at her elbow.

All she needed was a listener ... no advice, wisdom, experience, money, assistance, expertise or even compassion ... but just a minute or two to listen.

It seemed rather incongruous that in a society of supersophisticated communication, we often suffer from a shortage of listeners.

She talked numbly and steadily until we boarded the plane, and found her seat in another section. As I hung up my coat, I heard her plaintive voice say to her seat companion, "I'll bet it's cold in Chicago."

I prayed, "Please God, let her listen."

Why am I telling you this? To make me feel better. It won't help, though.

Comments

[bitter-crimson.livejournal.com]

♥

[tiffiny.livejournal.com]

♥

[cityphonelines.livejournal.com]

I approve of this post. Thank you for making it.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

:)

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

I got all weepy.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

Heh. Thanks.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

:)

[laurondo.livejournal.com]

To comment with what others have...

♥

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

:) :holds:

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

:)

[sonicbookmark.livejournal.com]

Now I feel guilty because Erma Bombeck feels guilty.

[lalita82.livejournal.com]

Just a lovely post. Thanks for sharing. ♥

[breathe-me27.livejournal.com]

*tears up*

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

I did that a few times because I kept re-reading and then I stopped so I wouldn't cry anymore.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

:p The guilt will pass. Hopefully.

[fromyourashes.livejournal.com]

*sniffles*

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

*hands you a tissue*

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I've had experiences like that before. Mostly I want people to leave me alone because I am scared of talking, but sometimes that doesn't matter, and I know it.

I think I was a better listener when I was younger.

Erma Bombeck rocks.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way, I'm really not good with talking to people well not adults. I'm okay with children. And I can "talk" here (as sometimes evidenced by my posting 33 times a day) but to actually form words in front of a stranger? Hah. I have a hard time talking to people I do know.

[jules-411.livejournal.com]

*sniff*

I love Erma Bombeck.

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

I do too.

[bitterbird.livejournal.com]

that is amzing &hearts

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

I really like it.

[agt-league.livejournal.com]

*hugs you* ♥

[certainthings.livejournal.com]

:hugs back*