Although I think it is a side effect of the pandemic, my family claim I have always had the tendency to overshare. When in a new city I have enjoyed the opportunity to chat up the taxi driver asking his ethnic background and then bonding with him as I explain that, in most cases, I have lived in or at least visited his homeland. As my traveling partner uncomfortably squirms in his seat, the driver gives me helpful hints on the best ethnic restaurants in the city and gives me his card so that I can ask for him in particular on our next ride. It is very satisfying to have a small window into another person’s world or experience.
But, with nine months of “sheltering in place” my problem with oversharing has grown exponentially. On forays out to Publix or CVS I find myself relating family stories, family secrets, opinions, personal information and feelings to total strangers. All it takes is spotting the gentleman at CVS in his mask decorated with photos of his spaniel for me to launch into the story of my daughter and her husband having seven rescue dogs, their need to relocate from LA to AL and the dogs’ habits, likes and dislikes. As the line of folks, patiently waiting a safe social distance behind me, begins to fidget, the pharmacist politely tries to close the exchange, with the immediate conversation ender of “Well, you have a great day”.
Since travel has been curtailed, I am limited to only a few interactions, such as the experts behind the fish counter, the butcher or at the checkout in Publix. It is hard to prevent me talking about the benefits of wild-caught fish, cooking techniques for clams, and the benefits of a crown rack of lamb or tomahawk chop. Finally, as the person at the cash register innocently asks how my day is going, I may comment on the weather and rave about the seasonable vegetables that are currently available, which in turn may lead her to ask me how I cook artichokes or other food items from my cart, which gives me an opening to explain the Italian way to cook carciofi, adding that I lived in Rome for seven years and that my son and his family have been living in Spain for twenty years which explains the selection of cheeses and Rioja in my cart. Yes, and I relay all of this information in one long run-on sentence! “Well, you have a great weekend, now and you saved $24 today.”
If I am really lucky, my friend Niko may be at the check out and we can exchange a few words in Greek and reminisce about our mutual love of Greece and various islands. Part of my oversharing may be inspired by my love of exploring other cultures and lands. I really miss traveling and wonder when and if we can dust off the passports and plan a trip in the future. After these encounters I walk away feeling less like I have overstepped the simple bounds of civility and more like I have touched base with old friends with whom I share a camaraderie that has been forbidden since COVID-19 entered our realm!
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