Let’s Chat!

What to say if you’re running low on topics to keep a conversation moving along or to prevent it from accidentally dying on the vine?

Try these on for size if you’re looking for one or two conversation starters.

What is something you resent paying for? Federal tax on smartphone.

What are you currently worried about? Whether our democracy is in jeopardy.

Where do you get your news? Nightly news on network TV.

What is one of the sweetest/kindest gestures you have noticed someone do? I was touched by a young boy who was granted a wish by the Make a Wish Foundation.

He gave his wish to someone else who he felt was more in need. Hankie, please.

What are some red flags to watch out for in daily life? Drivers in other cars. Potholes.

What do you think when you see yourself in a mirror? It is a weird feeling that the face has changed right before my eyes all these years with little notice — yet I am basically the same person inside, but not quite.

What’s something that will always be in fashion no matter how much time goes by? Women’s boots.

Who do you go out of your way to be nice to? Our mailman — he’s such a nice guy.

Where’s your favorite place to eat and why? Atlanta Bread Company. Great Waldorf chicken salad on cranberry bread and chocolate croissants.

Nearby. Good ambiance, not loud. Perfect place to have lunch with a friend.

What captivates you such that you lose all track of time? This is also referred to as “flow.” Working on this blog. I am not only in flow, I’m obsessed and possessed. Perhaps I have found my passion.

Runner-up: reading.

When you sometimes think about why people are the way they are, what do you come up with? Why do people walk on the wrong side of the road? It is dangerous for pedestrian and driver. Safety first!

Why do people standing in line to check out not get out their form of payment until they reach the front of the line?

If you were going to design a t-shirt, what saying/slogan and graphic would you choose? “Take the High Road” — showing an Asian bar-headed goose. The bird that can fly the highest.

It can fly up and over the Himalaya in only about eight hours. “Only?”

They migrate annually in the spring to Mongolia to breed. Their peak height is nearly 21,120 feet while migrating, takes two months, and they cover 5,000 miles.

Hats off to them! Would have never known this if I hadn’t decided to create a t-shirt. And oh by the way, they’re vegetarians.

On your travels, what have you happened upon that marveled you most? Beartooth Pass, Montana/Wyoming.

Do you have a bucket list? Why or why not? No. I just don’t like the “idea” of a bucket list.

If I had a bucket list, the only thing on it would be a party to say “goodbye” to family and friends — if I could handle that.

What makes your heart soar like the hawk? Besides Paul, it’s coming home after I’ve been gone for a while and being greeted by little Ellie. It’s as if she missed me every single minute I was gone.

What was the last movie you watched that someone recommended to you? The Swan, a 1956 release, starring a very young Grace Kelly, Alec Guinness, and Louis Jourdan.

What was the last thing you did you wish you hadn’t? I bought baked goods at the grocery not realizing people might be giving confections as Christmas gifts. I suffered through though! No problem.

What is one recent thing you have done that has warmed your heart? Had a friend over for Christmas tea.

When reading, do you usually read in the same place? Where do you read? I normally read in bed in the morning or at night. If I read during the day, usually you’ll find me in the big blue chair in my room.

What subject/topic do you think humanity should focus on more that is not receiving enough attention? Poverty in America and the world.

Who’s your favorite comedy duo? Carol Burnett and Tim Conway in their skits as Mrs. Wiggins and Mr. Tudball.

What songs do you recognize when you hear the first few chords? Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple. Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin.

Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers. If Paul and I are together when we hear it, we usually stop what we’re doing and slow dance. It’s our song.

Do you play the piano? Another instrument? I almost learned to play the piano. I have a good reason why I didn’t. My mother found a used piano so I could take lessons. My dad and a friend of his went to pick it up.

They got it in the back of the truck and backed down the driveway. The piano wasn’t secured sufficiently, rolled right out of the bed of the truck onto the ground, and splintered into a million pieces. I didn’t see it happen.

My mother was more than a tad upset. I theorize my dad and his buddy were under the influence.

What is your favorite photograph(s) you have ever taken and why? Each and every photograph I took of Bruno is my favorite because he means so much to me. Although just the other day I took a great shot of Paul.

Are you familiar with the saying, “Don’t make me choose between my cat and my husband?”

What is the most expensive thing you have ever broken? A lawnmower. I drove over the lid of the water meter. Not good.

I try not to judge people (still working on that), but I can’t help but make a first impression on someone . What comes to mind when you meet someone for the first time? Does the person seem happy? Good vibes/energy? Smiling? Eye contact?

What makes you feel relatively young again? This question can be ignored by relatively young readers? Hence, no answers by anyone reading this. We’re all relatively young — just ask your mind.

What fashion item do you miss from your past that is now basically passé and possibly age inappropriate? I used to love wearing hair barrettes.

I have started wearing these again and still enjoy them. Young people have actually given compliments. Go figure.

If you were given $3 million dollars and had to give $1 million each to a charity, which charities would you choose? Right off the bat I would pick an animal organization. A child abuse cause. Alzheimer’s Foundation.

If you invented a robot, what would you program it to do? Write out our grocery list, pick those items up, return and shelve them. Then back to the charging station.

What is your favorite feature on your smartphone? The ability to sync more than one e-mail account to the device.

What do you wish your smartphone would do that it doesn’t? I wish Apple Pencil worked on iPhones.

If your genie granted you three wishes, what would they be? Ending every day with a colorful sunset I could see.

Having a get together of all the people I have reconnected with thanks to technology and thanks to some friends.

Perhaps a visit to Rainbow Bridge to love on Bruno and feel his fur against my skin again.

If you were to open a gift shop, what are some items you would like to carry?

• Fun socks
• Natural soaps with a hint of fragrance
• Fleece throws
• Personalized notecards
• Replica prints of famous paintings
• Small array of books about books (Right now I’m recommending Book Nerd by Holly Maguire. A little book of whimsy. Great gift for the readers in your life or maybe children of a certain age.)

So far in life, what do you consider to be one or two of your contributions to society (children count)? Tough one. I can think of only one: helping rescue dogs and cats. And oh, we’re big recyclers.

I hope you enjoyed our chat . . I did.

Full disclosure: the majority of the questions here are mine. I did “borrow” a few from the website. I was inspired by a couple and put my slant on those. Too intriguing to pass up.

If you like this type of thing, please visit the website. It’s good. Questions galore on thought-provoking topics.

Would love having another conversation with you. Please let me hear your thoughts. Feel free to comment on these or present your own conversation starters.

I am addicted to silver linings.
— Julia Turshen
Cookbook Author

Thank you for reading. The Bruno Papers loves any and all comments.

Sources

http://www.conversationstartersworld.com
http://www.nationalgeographic.com
http://www.stlzoo.org