you swam in a river of chance and coincidence. You clung to the happiest accidents—the rest you let float by

5. What one thing would you really like to own?

    a home in Canada 

 

46. Describe an embarrassing moment you’ve had. 

     I (apparently) so badly misconstrued the signs being given by the Animal-Brained Lawyer during our hours'-long lunch, and the meet-up for snacks that ended up being a dozen rounds of drinks at a dive bar in a snowstorm, and even the casual dinner at my place that ended with a case of empty beer bottles, a crust of leftover pizza, and a snoring dude passed out on my couch. 

    It hasn't been an entirely embarrassing relationship, and we're still friends of a sort—including the last long conversation during which he pushed and cajoled me to join him for an evening in the cheese state eating "fish cheeks" (is that even a thing??) after taking a ride in his plane. I think we're friends, but I still cannot figure out whether we've ever been more than friends. That is an extremely disconcerting, and sometimes blush-inducing, feeling.

 

15. Tell me about the first car you ever bought. 

    My first several cars were provided to me by the parental units, a side benefit offered while I remained in school. (This was the case for all of us kids, not just me!) Then I got married, and the next few cars were marital property.  

    The first car that I bought all on my own was a brand-new Honda Civic. I bought it essentially sight-
unseen and without a test drive; I knew what I wanted and was not going to change my mind. I actually bought the newer model year because the difference in price was insignificant enough not to matter. My salesperson was the younger son of a work friend, and he's an excellent example of his profession done right. Low-key, information sharing, no pressure. No magical mystical products or service to up-sell. 

    I also ordered an add-on remote start, which was not at the time offered as a factory option on that model. It was purchased from and installed by a business near the dealer's. I left it there for a couple of days after completing the purchase paperwork. I was staying with my parents over that period. Conveniently, I timed my departure for the day the car would be ready. I packed my current car (an older Civic with a 5-speed manual engine) for the trip and went to the dealer's. There, I transferred everything into the new vehicle, gave the trade-in a fond pat, and hopped behind the wheel. I took a quick photo of the odometer (7 whole miles!) and took off. 

34. What’s the most unforgettable coincidence you’ve experienced or heard about? 

    a friend was thinking about getting custom-made shoes. I think it was for an event, but maybe just 'cause. He went to the shop to start the process. Had his feet measured—they're on the larger side—and the person helping him became pensive, looking at his feet and then his face, very closely. He left the room and came back with a shoe box. Another customer had ordered custom-made shoes, but failed to pick them up. They'd been waiting a while. Coincidentally, they were the exact size and shape of my friend's feet. Even more oddly, they were the exact style and color that my friend had wanted. Rather than waiting for them to be handmade and paying full price, he got the shoes immediately and at a discount. (I may have gotten a detail wrong, but overall the story is as he told it.)

29. What’s the most anti-establishment thing you’ve ever done? 

    going to law school with all intention of not practicing law

42. Tell me about a time when you had too much to eat or drink. 

    I generally eat pretty small meals these days, more of a day-long graze with three or four bigger portions than a breakfast/lunch/dinner approach. This has been healthier for me—more fruits & veggies, fewer snacky snacks, and lower caloric intake overall—and has also decreased my grocery bill even as prices have increased overall. However, it's also been a burden on my ability to eat meals with other people. Saturday morning breakfast with the fam is a complex affair of eating what I can and leftover-ing the rest (which I'm fine with), but normal meals with other people are a challenge. 

    A couple of years ago, I was traveling with the most "gourmand" of my friends. We went out for a very nice meal (read: expensive and huge). While returning to and once in my hotel room, I was overtaken by a sensation of being so far beyond 'full' that I was seriously considering seeking medical attention. I took a long bath, in hopes that the heat and position would help with the ughhhhh. (I was better by bedtime.)

16. How has the Internet affected your life? 

    I remember a time when there was no internet. That seems to be a generational dividing line, being conscious of its beginning and gradual (and then exponential) impact on life. It started as a novelty, became a serious research tool, and seemingly all of a sudden it was entertainment, connection, and lifeline. I started out using gopher. I shared my first few email addresses. My first solo email had the word 'corn' in the domain name. Yes, this was all dial-up, with the hideous noise and long wait-times. 

    Now, I cannot imagine a day without being online somehow. My attention span has decreased to that of a squirrel. I interrupt my own leisure activities like reading or watching a movie, to look up a concept or person that has entered my consciousness. I use the internet for work, writing, shopping, and pretty much everything else I do. 

[from The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep It Going, Build Networking Skills and Leave a Positive Impression by Debra Fine; the title quotation is by David Wroblewski, from The Story of Edgar Sawtelle]