An Interesting Conversation

I met the most interesting gentlemen the other night at work. When he first came in I gave him my whole spiel and I thought he was kindly listening as I aksed in the very end what I could get him to drink. But then he motioned to me that he was deaf. How silly I felt then for rambling on about Boneless Buffalo Wings and Margaritas. He motioned for a pen and papar and I handed it over. I got him what his Sam Adams and handed him a menu.

He was alone and seemed to be enjoying the basketball game which was on the television. I was chatting with some of my friends who happend to have stopped by the bar that night. The gentlemen got my attention and he showed me what he would like for dinner and I wrote out the normal questions I would ask in regard to his order.

It was extremly interesting to communicate with him through writing. This was my first experience waiting on someone who was deaf. After he finished eating we someone how started to engage in converstion. The entire conversation which was quiet lengthy took place on sheets and sheets of receipt tape and napkins.

Mars had an extremly interesting story to tell. Usually with customers the conversation is general...about the weather or sports...small talk. However since we were writing to one another we seemed to skip over the small talk. It was easy for me to do becaues I have no problem expressing my thoughts and ideas in writing, but when it comes to talking sometimes my tongue gets tied. So this conversation was easy and fun. We talked about family, how he felt about where he lived, what type of work he was doing it, how it felt to be deaf. He wrote me an incredible story about his life. Everyone life is interesting, however when somone has had an experience that is so far from your own it becomes intriguing. Mars has had such an experience.

Because of the writing we really got to know one another. Was it because there was more freedom there. If I didn't want to answer one of his questions or vice versa, I didn't have to. I could just write something else. This left the possiblity to be more daring and intimate with the questions. However what was missing was eye contact. He would scribble something, I would read it, I would respond, he would read it....and on it went in a circle. I was constantly reading or writing. I rarely looked up.

I really enjoyed our conversation that night, and it was really intersting how it took place. One of the other customers was intrigued by what was taking place and asked me if I was writing a book. :) We sorta wrote a short story. :) At the end of the night I felt the need to tell my manager just because I knew he was wondering what was going on as well. And his response was "Oh I was wondering what was the deal with that man."

Mars doesn't live around here but I do hope to see him again sometime. He was a very interesting gentlemen, and I really enjoyed our writing conversation. I would love to have another someday.