Conversations
September 26, 2024
On my recent visit to my Maryland kids, there were non-stop conversations on three subjects: Football, college choices and food. I listened to an analysis of Grady’s Friday night high school football game for most of our 3.5 hour drive to visit Washington and Lee in Lexington, VA on Saturday. Competing for airtime on that trip were discussions about what fast food restaurants we might stop at along the way, and, even more important, what fast food restaurants might be accessed near the campus should Grady become a student there. And the food choices at the student dining hall at W&L were seriously assessed and determined to be excellent.
I thought about how different my conversations are with friends at home. Among the most common topics, the local winner seems to be medical appointments.
As evidence, within days after I returned home, I walked with a lovely friend whom I hadn’t seen in several weeks. We covered many topics, but only after…
Health updates.
I had to laugh about health updates. I have lunch with 3 friends every week…one is 83, the rest of us are 74 plus. I’m going to suggest we never talk health again.
Posted by: Janet | September 26, 2024 at 08:02 AM
Contrary to many people, I am always interested in people’s health updates. It’s a major part of their lives and I want to grant them the friendship of listening. And secondly I always learn from these discussions. I learn about new approaches in medicine, a new doctor to consider if I have the need, a new website to explore. A friend’s doctor suggested water aerobics for her hip arthritis. I had been through so many approaches for the same issue and nothing much helped. I tried the water aerobics and it has been wonderful.
Posted by: Linlee | September 26, 2024 at 10:17 AM
I agree with Janet! I much prefer to talk with younger people about their work, their passions (like football and food)! And I've been on many college choice visits which I found fascinating. I don't have a lot of ailments, even at 87, and I have 10 grandchildren who are living around the country and we trade book and movie recommendations, send each other photos of living in different cities. Two are doctors and I might ask them a particular question.
Posted by: Jacqueline Rifkin | September 26, 2024 at 05:04 PM