As I’m on the final-final days of leave and the NY weather has been unseasonably mild, I decided to take my reading to the outside.

I strolled to my favorite park, just across the street from home, and chose a bench facing the river to perch. I perched because much of the bench remains wet from the recent rain and the driest part of the seat is wide enough for just perching. So I’m precariously perched with book in hand.

I’m reading. Every now and again I look up to smile or mouth “hi” to neighborhood folks walking by. Some taking health break strolls like the healthcare workers who work at the nearby hospital. Others pushing baby strollers. Couples strolling hand-in-hand. And others walking with or being dragged by their dogs. So I’m looking up from my book a few times but still getting a good bit of consistent reading in.

There’s a dog approaching. His master has him on a long leash so I turn my smile to him before his master arrives. She talks first:

“What’s that in your hand,” she asks.

“This?” Closing the book and extending it for her to see I continue, “a book.”

“We don’t see too many of those these days,” she responded.

“So true. And this one is about “Small Talk”, go figure”, I smiled with a lift of my brow.

We chatted for a little bit. Small talk in practice.

“Have a great day,” she semi-shouted, turning her head back in my direction as her dog had tire of our conversation and was now dragging her away.

And just like that I got the chance to practice, “The Fine Art of Small Talk” in my favorite park, perched on a bench, across from the river, alongside the hospital on a beautiful weather day in winter.

Ciao beautiful WP people 👋🏾 rain drops are spattering on my phone. Running home.

2023 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved

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In creative solidarity, Dee