Hey yourself

A fox walked through our backyard this evening. I was like, “Hey.” And the fox was like, “Hey yourself.”

Whatever happened to “Hey / Hey yourself” conversations? Simple, short acknowledgments — I should start having more of those because this morning I blew it.

I was mowing the lawn and a woman walked by with her two dogs. I stopped mowing because I didn’t want to scare the dogs or run the risk of grass hitting them or whatever. For years, people have cut the mower when I walk by and I’ve always thought, “Now this is what modern civilization looks like.” But today, when I cut the mower a giant hush fell over Rockford and probably all of Illinois. It was eerily quiet for a full second before I broke that god-awful silence.

“Good morning,” I said with a big, dumb smile. “How are you?”

“Morning,” she said back to me. “How are you?”

I could tell she just wanted to walk her dogs in peace, but I wasn’t having it.

“Not bad, not bad,” I said as I wiped imaginary perspiration from my brow. “Figured I’d mow before it got too hot.”

“Good idea.”

“What beautiful dogs!”

“Thanks,” she said. “How are you?”

“Not bad, not bad.”

“Well, have a good one.”

“You too!” Then I looked at her dogs and said, “Stay cool!”

A simple “Hey / Hey yourself” would have sufficed. I’ll get there one day. Gotta work on it. Until then, a poem.

mastering the art
of polite conversation
would mean no more war

Thanks for reading my late night blog. -Connie