I like to feel people out.

It's hard to believe. But I used to be tongue-tied. Didn't know what to say. Especially in a social situation. Yes, when I dated. As a teen-ager. Or a young man. Now I can't be shut up. If necessary, I can talk incessantly. Maybe even to the point of putting people to sleep. Out of boredom. I could get up on stage. And improvise. No script needed. I could go to the podium. In Congress. And filibuster for 48 straight hours. Yes, non-stop. With hardly a pause. It's as if I have a motor in my mouth. I'd be good on radio. Because the aim is to fill up the air. With sound. Silence is taboo. Albeit, I also know that silence can be effective. And sacred. I do love silence, too. At the proper time. But I can out-babble virtually anyone. That surprises me. Because for a while I thought I'd grow up as Silent Jim. That is, in social situations. At home I was rarely silent. If I had something to say, I said it. And that was often. I didn't hold back. Little wonder that my nickname was 'Big Mouth.' But I wasn't a big-time socializer. Not that I am now. I generally avoid social gatherings. I'm more for one-on-one conversations. Allows me to focus on the individual. I find that talking openly and candidly about meaningful subjects tends to put my kind of people at ease. So I do it. Often, upon a first meeting. Chances are, if someone is ill at ease under such a situation, he/she isn't my kind. And we go our own ways. See, I like to feel people out. I almost know from the start whether we'll connect. But hey, I'm also willing to take my time. And give anyone a second and a third and a fourth chance. Maybe even more. --Jim Broede