On periodic walks through the nearby park, whatever time of day, so it’s usually empty. There’s only a few passer-bys. More often than not one is with some silence. Though from those few it’s amusing how much you can learn about someone just from how they deal with the situation.
The situation of having to pass someone. Especially closer quarters, with no convenient street to cross. Some of the paths in the park weave between the trees with an elevated wooden walkway. There’s some squared stopping points – a platform, really – for the crowded days: equipped with a bench and an older person feeding the squirrels. Squirrels can get quite aggressive with enough patrons.
Well, it’s amusing because it’s common around here to do a greet. Or is it? I can’t tell anymore. Whether copying some “southern hospitality” or sporting an idealist obligation, more often than not one acknowledges the other.
But there’s such variance. Between generations, or backgrounds. Sometimes my hellos are met with silence, or a pained smile. It doesn’t bother – and depending on how you pass, if we position and tiptoe expertly enough, we don’t have to think about these things at all. We pass comfortably in silence.
As the generations roll over so the younger ones don’t want to do these things at all. It’s not as though I’m any different: it’s not as though I don’t see the same ridiculousness. I’m not sure why some light up with a hello, when it does happen. Maybe you exchange some commentary – maybe the foreigners cringe at the thought of saying anything to one another at all. But you do point out the nearby owl on occasion, that you do.
And maybe some would argue a proper barometer of a “healthy” society is sharing a smile passing by. Nevertheless it’s not far-fetched to meet all the stone-faced ones. Maybe to not overwhelm – I mean, a smile for other animals is a sign of aggression, isn’t it? I can feel the Bible fall onto me: to file our paragon asunder between geckos and lions.
When especially lost in thought and someone greets with a smile so it’s hard to form the same one. Not because smiling is foreign, but it’s not a reflex. You just learn not to, maybe. It’s almost embarrassing when someone smiles and greets you before you notice them and can’t change your face.
What makes the stone-face anyway? The far younger ones that do pass by wouldn’t know why it’s like this for the older ones.
But I think all the stone-faced are infectious in encounters. As a child grows so they learn their enthusiasm will be met with coldness. It’s best to keep things formal, and never draw much more from yourself.
Surely you have a few moments you wouldn’t mind replaying again. And yet they come as such a surprise, were you ever prepared?
When a flower only knows shadow, it doesn’t matter however much sunlight is received after. Anything outside the expected, perforated, punctual and proper greeting may as well be drowning.