The social connector...

Tonight I stopped by a local tavern, not the one where everybody knows my name, rather one where I was a stranger.  Not my first time dining alone, but I was a little more observant of the others around me.

I belly up to the bar and order a draft and ask for a menu.  The attractive bar maid goes about her tasks in a pleasant manner.  She makes small talk with the other patrons with whom she is already familiar with.  The lonely gentleman to my right gives me the impression that he is looking for attention.  He has already placed himself at the last seat at the bar to isolate himself, but he craves interaction.  He is text messaging on his phone and laughing out loud.  Then he is watching a video on his phone and again overtly reacting to what he is watching.  I am not in a social mood, so I don't take the bait.

At the other end of the bar is a conversation quarterback.  He is leading the conversation in the small group he is with and he is loud enough so that everyone in earshot can listen in.  The barmaid, bartender and others are all making brief interjections into the conversation, but he is running the offense.

Tonight I choose not to participate.  In fact, most nights I make that choice.  In the book, The Tipping Point, by Malcom Gladwell, he speaks of a well connected individual who has so many contacts because of his natural social behavior.  My wife has this amazing social behavior.  In fact she is a magnet for conversation.  Strangers just start talking to her.  It is bizarre, but completely natural to her.  I wonder if that is one of the reasons I am with her.  She is my social connector.