Posted by Embracing a particularly good double e at Preservation Coffee and Tea on J Street, one of my inevitable eavesdrops developed…sorry, can’t help it, I pay attention.
Halfway through my first e, a woman entered the cafe at the top of the hour and joined an older woman at the next table. It was a re-connection after some time, much catch-up ensued. Perhaps a check-in with an aunt or other mentor? From my vantage point, I could only see the senior of the two. Her face illustrated their conversation. ‘Wow, how wonderful,’ her genuine radiant smile reflected. ‘Really?’ her lips leveled as she carefully listened. ‘Oh no,’ her hands grasping her companion’s wrists, and her rich, saddened expression beamed empathy. Her face told the story…
Fast forward a few days. My beautiful wife was at a party and re-connecting with an old friend. As she listened, her face glowed with recognition as she smiled in response to a shared memory. I instinctively looked for the counter-smile that would build the shared joy of the conversation. But only the eyes were available. The nose, cheeks, lips, mouth and chin were all sanitized by the white creases of a surgical mask. Was it a smile, a neutral, a frown?
I’m reminded of a team presentation training exercise many years ago. The presenter’s colleagues were told to remain expressionless through the first part of the pitch. For the second half, they were told to be effusive and encouraging with their face and hands. The impact on the presenter was day and night. The clinical message was that non-verbal communication is more important than words.
We all do what we believe is best. God I hope this is over soon. (Andy)
