#89 - Don't Like Lacking Conversation

TableTopics

I ran across this box of cards the other day. We haven't used these converstaion starters before, because who needs help with conversing? Well I do now.

​I used them with my dad on the phone! What a nice boost. I didn't have to be the clever one, coming up with tricky strategies for conversing.

​Dad's been on lockdown for months. I've got to stop saying, "How's it going?"
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I told Dad I was pulling a card. I read and he was so quick to answer. "Beach!" I didn't know that Dad preferred beaches to mountains. He answered, "Me!" when I asked who was the most optimistic person he knew. Well, I guess. Every day he says he's perfect when I stupidly ask, "How are you?"

Zoom With Kids

On Sunday afternoon, Don and I had a "Cold Weather Zoom" with the kids. They were having chilly weather in OR and CA and it was in the 90's in Houston.

We cranked the a.c. lower at our house and we all put on cozy clothes and drank drinks from mugs. I asked the kids about mountains vs. beach. I was surprised that more said mountains, than beach. But look at us, dressed for mountains!

 

We talked for almost 2 hours and didn't need the cards. We talked about how we hoped to getting together for Christmas. We wondered if it was possible to meet up in the west, if Don and I drove. We did a lot of laughing but the comment, "We just need to all live closer." was not a joke. We are all feeling the distance.

Zoom with Sibs

10 minutes after we finished with our kids, we zoomed with my 3 siblings and spouses. This was our first. It was wonderful to see each other. We all wished that the 8 of us could meet up in Michigan, like we did a year ago.

​We needed no cards to help us talk. There was so much to share. My younger bro and wife showed us their new dogs and gave us weather updates. Hurricane Cristobal was making landfall in Nola.

My sister told us about the peaceful protest she attended in Eugene, OR. My older brother told us how much more work he's getting done, working from home in Idaho. 

We talked about current events... which led to my older bro sharing about his memories of being tear gassed when demonstrating at the Republican Convention in 1972. Oh, these conversations!

And then we talked about what we missed most, since this pandemic started. No one talked about missing movie theatres or gyms or restaurants. We talked about travel and hugs (with friends) and seeing each other. 

I miss good conversation with family... in person!