Alrighty Then ... and Other Ways To End A Conversation

Right!

Hmmmm ... if you say so.

Let me know how that works out for you.

Love you (pitch ascending).

Love you (pitch descending).

Any withdrawal of any body part, especially with an accompanying sigh

The LOOK

THE look

No look

Aggressive silence

Don't let the door ...

Huh?

The non-touch

Oh, really!?! (pitch ascending) [and where is the interrobang?]

Oh really!?! (pitch descending) [some fonts have it, others don't]


Oh yes, there are many ways to end conversations and that assumes that there were actually connected conversations in the first place. Information abounds but interpersonal connections are rare. There are lots of electronic and sound waves in the air and we pick up on only a few. Words fly around us - but we really have to listen to hear the ones that are important to us. When our lives wither to "whats" and "hows" and very few "who's" our lives become bleak.

The truth is that people are aching to say something to someone who will listen. People want a connection. Hallmark, American Greeting and Gibson are still in business - despite the global presence of cell phones, the web, EM, IM and twittering. We hate being passed around a corporate playing field of help desks that aren't helpful. We despise being ignored. Life is coming full speed ahead and people's ears and minds are full of earbuds and their own egocentric thoughts.

Let us, as artists, writers, photographers, calligraphers and just decent people, lead the way in being the sensitive souls and listen to people. Let us open our eyes to their lives. Let us feel their pains and joys. Let our art help express what they sometimes cannot express without our help.

Our sentences and observations and letters and photographs may BEGIN conversations and dialog and launch people on their journey of self-discovery and healing.

The connection may extend our lives further than we can imagine.

Say it with flowers, say it with mink, but when you really, really mean it, say it in ink!

Alright. Oh, really! CATCH my drift. (c) Tim Johnson http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/