{ jamieann dot net } » Blog Archive » awkward conversations

March 10, 2008 | ridiculous things

Don’t you just hate when you get dragged into awkward conversations? Even more so, when it is a complete stranger?

Where: Walgreens checkout lane
Who: me, cashier, talkative older woman probably in her 50s

Talky Lady in front of me goes to pay. Friendly cashier lady tells us that everything in that cart over there is only a penny. In the cart are some candles and Shrek valentines or something. Talky Lady rushes to the cart, sees the candles and says, “Ohhhh noo! Not candles! Candles make me nervous!”. She then proceeds to tell us her brother, his wife and two of their kids died in a fire and that they couldn’t get out of the apartment. Their balcony caved in and they couldn’t escape. The cashier asks if the fire was caused from a candle and Talky Lady says “NO!” and goes on to say how it was all over television and the news. The cashier and I don’t really know what to say, but even if we wanted to, we wouldn’t be able to get a word in. Then Talky Lady asks cashier if she has a $100 bill for 5 twenties and tells me it’s for her niece to go shopping. She gets to spend money because “she is just turning 14 and is turning into a woman!”

What?

Okay, so just when we think she is done, cashier and I share a glance of relief that finally this woman is almost out the door. It’s now my turn to pay. Talky Lady is about to walk out the door. Stops. Turns and walks back to the register where I am paying for my peanut M&Ms, plops her bags down on the counter and says:

“Years ago, I had a hysterectomy, but I’ve been having this awful, terrible pains. My doctor decided to do an ultra sound and she told me they found ovaries! So I called my gynecologist and yelled at him! (Talky Lady is now yelling at this point and customers are looking at us.) They were suppose to take everything out and here they find ovaries! He said they are lying, but what the hell else could it be?! Now I am in pain and think I have ovaries that were suppose to be removed or cancer!”

By now I am finished paying and I am unsure of what to say. She stopped talking for a sec and was gearing up for more when I said, “Um, yeah…I hope everything turns out well” and rushed out the door without pausing for her response.

Because, really? What does one say to that?

Oh my gosh that is…really weird.

Awkward! Apparently checkout lines have it out for us!!!

Okay, I saw the word “hysterectomy” and started cracking up, because that can never be good. Also, 14? Almost a woman? What the?!

Wow. That’s….really random. I mean, I thought it was weird that time the hair stylist started talking about how my hair might grow back differently if I ever got cancer, but discussions of a complete strangers ovaries are in another league altogether.

AW-kward.

holy SHIT that’s crazy

That’s really, really awkward. I would have done the same thing you did. I might not have even said anything to her and rushed out the door to escape.

OMG! Finally, this happens to someone besides me! Not wishing ill will, but I swear I am a magnet for crazy people like this! I had someone butt in front of me in line and start screaming for someone to find her “Sea-washer” pants because her husband can only wear Sea-washers and blah blah blah then she looks at me mid rant and says, ohh, I guess you’ll have to wait because I cut in front of you. WTF? It’s just like you said, really what do you say to this?

I dont even want to think about how red my face would have been

She’s the kind of person who calls my work and carries on for over an hour… then hangs up because she has to use the restroom and calls back 10 minutes later to know if anyone else had called while she was away. Sometimes I hate the senator’s office…

I love running into people like that because HELLO! Free blog content! Thanksmuch!

Slynnro – That is exactly what I told Jenn when I got home!

She sounds insane. And kindof like she gets off on telling crazy personal details to strangers.

eek. tmi.

but yes, great blog fodder.

hahaha, i love the encounters with the strange people in this world, sometimes i forget that there really are some strange people living out there

yikes. sounds like she was trying to get in a cheap therapy session!

lol omg…crazy people! haha At least you made your exit while you could – the poor cashier had to continue standing there and letting the lady keep on chatting! lol

Ha! That’s just wrong! She’s probably lonely. Or loony. Or both.

I would have told her, “Look it up in the dictionary or any medical book. A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus, NOT the ovaries!”

I don’t know. I got a little pissed off reading this post because my mom had a hysterectomy when she was in her 40s and the doctors found she had ovarian cancer when she was 67. Duh! The doctors aren’t the idiots; she is! Obviously. I just wish I had been there.

*Fingers curling to fists*

Oh. My.
It’s amazing how those funny little experiences can connect you with your co-sufferers, though, hey?

some people just do NOT know when to shut their mouths and just keep walking.
ha ha ha. at least you and the cashier could exchange laugh looks

“I hate candles. My family died in a fire.”

“Cause by candles?”

“NO!”

Terrific…

Um..I’m pretty sure that this woman has some kind of psychological problem.

wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

i have….no words. there are no words that one can say to that. I probably, had i been in your shoes, laughed at the absurdity of the whole situation heh.

holy crap. crazy people, crazy.

damn! Well it seems like that woman REALLY needed to talk to someone. Unfortunately, you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I hate crazies like that! Fortunately the New Yorker in me is really good at the half-hearted-smile-and-ignore tactic.

Oh man. I’m from a smaller town, so we usually know who the crazies are and try to run away if it’s at all possible. That’s a hilarious story, though. Too bad about the ovaries. I’d ask for a refund.

Oh my! You should’ve said something to the extent of, “I sense you have an even larger problem than the after effects of your hysterectomy. Namely, your diarrhea of the mouth!” hahaha.

Ha, awkward is right! Good thing you got out of there when you did! I get trapped in these type of convos a lot too, unfortunately.

Someone was once telling me their life story on a bus ride home during winter break. So, as they were talking I took out my journal, ripped out the used pages and gave it to him. He got the hint and left it on the seat when it was his stop.

I can’t stand people who live for awkward silences. I swear they do it just for the reaction.

Who talks about hysterectomies in public? At least when I do I call it a “yute yank.”

I think you handled that well because usually when I encounter people who don’t stop talking, I feel bad because I know they aren’t mentally stable, so I just listen, nod, and smile until they get bored of ME. hahahaha

[...] Jamie shared a very awkward conversation she had in Walgreens. [...]

That is really, seriously over the top. I’m sorry you had to endure that, but delighted that you shared!

your telling of this story made me laugh. out loud. at my computer. as my boss walked past. slightly awk.

…but it was so worth it.

you? are hilarious. also, i don’t know why it’s taken me so long, but i added you to my blogroll…i hope you don’t mind

ha! i love awkward conversations!

i also wanted to comment on the new three column layout…LOVE LOVE LOVE.

I’m not sure about this new design, I like it, but it seems off center.

Haha, that is so awkward. I would’ve been in the same boat as you- no idea what to say to that.
Love the new design!

I would have done exactly what you did. That lady is a mess. I bet she’s lonely.

oh this is tooo funny. I wish my Aunt had passed $100 to me when I turned 14…Poor lady, I bet she doesn’t have many friends. :-\

Wait…she turned around to tell you this like OMG I forgot! Weirdo

And I thought I was a crazy lady magnet… O_o

hahaha I <3 it. I kind of love crazy people.

Ummm…that is the most awkward/uncomfortable thing I’ve ever heard of. Someone needs to tell that lady to not be such an open book. Seriously! Not everyone wants to know everyone else’s personal business…WEIRD!

SOOOO awk… ps I love your new design

That is seriously bizarre! If that ever happened to me I’d wonder whether the person was a stooge and I was secretly being filmed for a candid camera type show!?

[...] this is the second time Clare has left me a comment. First, my blog is off center and now Clare is sticking up for little ole [...]

“im not sure about this new design, I like it, but it seems off center”

OMG! How could she???

Grow some balls or quit blogging.

[...] this is the second time Clare has left me a comment. First, my blog is off center and now Clare is sticking up for little ole [...]

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