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Task 15, April 11 to April 18

Editor’s note: Paul, the co-host of the Old People This Week Podcast, weighs on social interaction. Please enjoy.

“A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse”. Rod Stewart

I like to walk, and I really like to walk with my dogs. Over the past 40 odd years I have walked thousands of miles with the various dogs I have owned and pretty much enjoyed every stroll no matter the weather or the setting. I find peace at my end of the leash, and I would humbly state that the dogs enjoyed our time together as much as I did.

Part of walking with your dogs is communing with other people. For me, walking is a shared experience, one that offers me the opportunity–if only for a brief passing moment–to interact with neighbors and others.

In that spirit, I ALWAYS make the effort to connect, person to person, with any and all that pass by. It may be as short as a nod, or a “good morning” or “hello” or “how are you?” And I never give attitude, just a smile…

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But…ok, call me demanding, but I want–need–some sort of reciprocation. Give me something in return! A verbal reply would be great, but I’ll settle for a nod, a friendly look, a grin–anything but a cold stare, a side-eye, or worse: a look-away…

Now I’m not talking 5th Avenue New York here or even an airport, I’m talking a neighborhood with sidewalks, parkways and white picket fences. I can probably justify it if you’re not from the US and where you’re from it’s an effrontery to nod, or maybe you have headsets on and you are so carried away with the latest Taylor Swift song that that you just can’t see anything around you, but It still makes me crazy when my fellow human refuses to acknowledge my existence. For the love of Pete!!!

And while we’re on the topic of interactions:

Don’t send me a facebook post with Happy Birthday without a sentiment included. Or at Christmas if you still send cards, don’t add just a preprinted signature without a message…for SHAME–there has to be an “love you” or “miss you” or something you can write and hit send. Anything less is just lame and lacks feelings.

Are we clear? Thank you for letting me get that off my chest.

Task: be human, be aware, be present.