Conversation: The art of which is lost on many.......

Bartenders pretty much make their living through conversation. Over the last 30 years, it has never ceased to amaze me, how many people don’t understand just what a conversation is. The word itself implies that there are two or more people exchanging information or ideas. This happens all the time, on a daily basis. Then….you encounter the “conversation buster.”

I was having a conversation with a gentleman at the bar one night, when this woman appeared and sat down next to him. She was welcome to join in, however what she did was barge in. Within a matter of about 15 seconds, she started rambling on about something that was totally unrelated to anything we were talking about. Okay, we’ll do the polite thing and wait until she is done. But, therein lies the problem, she never shut up! Finally someone else from the group she was waiting for, showed up. In a fraction of a second, she stopped talking at us, and directed her gift of filibuster at the new arrival. Whew! The gentleman and I went back to our conversation. It was short lived, she returned. Shit.

These conversation busters don’t necessarily limit the use of their talents on complete strangers, no, they do it to their friends, also. I had a party of three the other night, and all three were practicing the art of conversation busting. Then the boss joined in, or so he thought. All three were talking at the same time. After all, they each had something to say that was more important than anything else on earth. What a mess! No need for me to stick around, I amused myself with wiping down things that didn’t need it, and taking various walks around the restaurant. But it’s okay, they didn’t miss me. Outside of the sound of their own voice, they are oblivious to anything else that is going on.

The only thing I had my ear tuned for, was “We’ll cash out now.” See, they had a 6:30 dinner reservation, it’s now 8:40.…..we close in 20 minutes, let’s get this show on the road.! Go to your table and eat!!!!! These self-absorbed people are also the same ones who think they’re just too special! They haven’t got a clue as to the fact that there is no one else left in the restaurant, and they are holding up the entire staff. Really, folks, there is a whole world out there….and NO ONE in it is as impressed with you, as you are with yourselves.