Gushing

 

 

As her two kids ran shrieking past her, the Mom looked at me and the Nikon and whispered, "That's what I should be doing but they won't let me.."  I thought that it was the administrators of the park who were to blame for this woman not being able to take pictures. Feeling indignant on her behalf, I asked "Who won't let you take pictures?" Pointing at her two happy beautiful children she said "Them."  Then, she launched into a lightning-quick-no-spaces-between-words monologue that offered no room for a word of response: "Wheredoyoushowyourwork?Youknowtherearealotof groupsyoucanjointhathavemeetupswhereyoucangoshoot withotherpeople.ThereisagroupforCapeAnnandtheNorthShore aswellasBoston.Thereareallkindsofgroups.Groupsaregood becauseyoupostyourworkandcangetfeedbackonyourwork. ButyouhavetohaveFacebook.Youhavetohave Facebook.YouhavetohaveFacebookOKIhavetogo.Bye."   I was kind of grateful for the torrent.. If it were a real conversation, I might have had to reveal information that makes many people uncomfortable - like the fact that in general, I find shooting with other people to be a hindrance to creativity and a distraction to the task of really looking -  and that Facebook is a cancer. I also might have expressed my jealousy that she had her kids with her while mine have blown like milkweed seeds to the far reaches of the Empire.  This encounter was by no means uncommon. I often run into other folks who start speaking to me by asking me a question with no real interest in what the answer might be.. For them, the initial question is merely a hook with which to hang the rest of their logorrhea on. I don't resent this. I see it as a manifestation of how lonely and un-listened-to so many of us are these days.. When they encounter someone who shows the merest hint of engagement, their loneliness comes gushing out like water from a fire hose...

 

 

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