So many things on my mind tonight. When I sit down to write my post for next Sunday, I will officially be living in Maryland. I still don’t see how it’s all going to get done especially with me fielding some sort of upper respiratory ailment and lower back pain. But it will get done and it would be really boring to spend 5 minutes complaining about all that.
Instead, I decided to share a little sunshine in me day. Just when I thought I’ve had all I can take with yard sales and craigslist and people in my house and my life, I remembered how much I do like people after all.
Today’s (Optional) Writing Prompt: Are you a people person? Do you feel energized or drained around people? What are some of your favorite types of encounters or tell me a story of one!
Here we go…
—
Some days I can’t stand people. I really just can’t stand them. They annoy me. They disgust me. They irritate me. But they also entertain me and sometimes they bring me joy.
I know it sounds weird and it sounds like I’m not a people person. I think I am – they just have to be the right kind of people. People that seem to be increasing harder to find.
Today, I talked to a man named Tollie and he told me a story that filled my mind with pictures and imagination and I really enjoyed just listening to him.
Of all things, I “met” Tollie over the phone while I listed yet MORE items for sale. This time, I used the words “MOVING! Must sell ASAP!” and apparently those words light a fire under people. I’ve been fielding emails and phone calls all day. I”m just happy to see this stuff going to a good home.
Tollie emailed me about the Cat Genie I’m selling. If you have cats, you should google it. It’s a pretty neat system but its time has come and gone for us. We’re ready to clear out.
So today, Tollie called and said he’d like to buy it but he’d have to drive down from a remote part of Virginia to get it. He didn’t mind and actually sent me the money via PayPal. But this good old country boy just delighted me when I made a simple comment to him.
“I used to know someone named Tollie.”
He was flabbergasted. It’s an unusal name, short for nothing, and he had never met another Tollie except his father and grandfather.
Turns out Tollie’s dad was one of eighteen children that grew up in the southwestern part of Virginia. They were all given simple names with no middle names. My reasoning was that they’d run out of names too quickly! His dad was one of the few siblings still alive at the ripe age of 85 while almost all his siblings had died before the age of 51. They were from a coal-mining town and apparently the coal dust had done them all in.
His dad was smart enough to move away so he wouldn’t have to work in the mines and extended his life by a few good decades. His grandfather wasn’t a coal miner either. He’d spent his entire life running his own moonshine operation. Oh yes. These are some country folk.
Turns out he did quite well even though, according to Tollie, he himself never touched the stuff except for one shot every night before bed. Tollie’s grandfather lived to be over 100 years old. I’m thinking maybe he knew the secret of life.
A little sale, a quick phone conversation, and suddenly I remember that I really like people. Especially people with really interesting stories.
11 comments
I feel your pain, trying to move while sick. I broke my foot in the middle of our current move (we’re military, we do this a lot.) While the movers were putting all our earthly belongings on the truck, I had to go pick up our daughter from her last day of school. Walking out to my car, I stepped off the curb, rolled my left ankle & fell. As I fell I heard a pop on the way down. Hubby had to stay with the movers, so I had to go get the kiddo & instead of coming home we went to the ER. Long story short, it’s broken & I’m going to have to have surgery to repair it because the bone is so displaced.
I love to hear people’s stories..especially those that are interesting. I met many ppl who made the Oklahoma to California trek a la Grapes of Wrath. Such an interesting perspective on things.
I too am not a people person. It’s great that you manage to hear such an interesting story while making a sale.
Sometimes people really irritate me, but I do stand in awe of those with great stories… like my grandfather. He shares some really awesome war stories. I’m glad the sale led to a great realization for you and that cat genie… yeah, we NEED one!
I hope all has gone well with your move, that you feel better and that you’re enjoying your new location.
I bet Tollie has a book worth of stories in him. I just love to know what the other sibling names are. I have had ONE garage sale that made me not so fond of people. There are certain situations I won’t put myself in again. I don’t like selling stuff to people. But just in case I do, thanks for the advice on what key words to use.
I love it! I’ll have to post in detail on my blog later today when we return home from the beach:-). For now, We sound much alike on this topic. I know I come across as a total people person, I’m good with people, but I have found myself over the years that many don’t live up to my expectations of humans. I see someone throw garbage out the window of a moving vehicle, I’ve worked in Vet clinics and with animal rescue groups for many many years and have seen first hand how cruel people can be and it hardens be. That being said, I’m overjoyed to be around positive people with optimism for life and good stories. I would have loved listing to Tollie tell this story.
T
Totally with you on not always being a people person. My people-person-ness can be switched on and off depending on the situation and the people I am around. Glad you are almost finished with the move and I wish you good luck as you go through with the last steps this week.
There is a saying…the more people I meet, the more I like my dog. I tend to agree. I am not a people person and find that most days they annoy me. I don’t think I was always this way. But give me a person that can tell a good story and take me to another time and place (like Tollie) and I am smitten!
We finally have a rental home and so now that mad dash to pack truly begins! Goodwill has been getting a lot of stuff from us!
That is a really interesting story, I have never known a Tollie or many country folk for that matter. Good luck with the move!
That was sweet story. I mostly like people too and love hearing their stories. I get a lot of questions about my accent and one thing always leads to another and people will tell you their tales. It makes life interesting.