Strangers no more.

When meeting strangers. I skip the small talk. And get down to the nitty-gritty. Right away. My intent. Is to get to know something significant. About the stranger. In the first 10 minutes. And to know a bevy of other significant stuff. Before we depart. For instance. I always do that. With the stranger next to me. On a plane. Hey, we’re fellow travelers. We have much in common. A good starting point. Knowing. Knowing. Something significant. That I can write and think about. Please, dear stranger,  give me something to mull over. To peak my interest. Yes. It’s my sacred duty. To get strangers to open up. And I do that. Sometimes by talking about myself. And my significance. And before anyone knows it, we are exchanging information. I learned that. As a newspaper reporter. Talking to people I had never met before. For the sake of unearthing a story.  I’m never bored. I expect the same from the stranger.  Open up. Open up. That’s what I’m chanting. Encouraging the stranger.  I’m here to awaken you. Give me the story of your life. I’ll tell you mine, too. Demonstrating how it’s done. So easily. Return the favor, please. Out perform. Out-talk me. I’m listening. With rapt attention. Ready to pop the next question.  Yes. Yes. Suddenly. We are strangers no more. --Jim Broede