The Axiomatic Musings of a Teen who lives in an unfriendly town

Small towns are weird.
Small snooty towns are weirder.

We have a paved path in our town where joggers, bikers, rollerbladers and dog-walkers can sport their new Underarmor spandex shorts and iPod armbands and get some exercise. The strange thing is that even with adults on this path, there's still the Awkward Hallway Complex (AHC).
The AHC is something any school kid has experienced. It's when you're walking down the hallway to the bathroom or water fountain and the halls are empty, and from a great distance you see someone you know. Do you wave for the entirety of the time they're in your vision? Or ignore them until you've practically run into them? Wave once, then enjoy the awkward silence as you wait to say hello as you pass them? Until then, do you just grin? Or what? And what if you're in said silent hallway and you see someone you were best friends with 5 years ago but drifted from and have nothing in common anymore? Deny existence all together? Awkward wave? OR, what if it's someone you've never talked to in your life, but you love their shirt, or have the same backpack? Do you mention it? It could make their day, or they could take it entirely wrong! It's a traumitizing decision! This is understandable with kids who haven't yet found their place in society, realized their true allies and enemies, and are a little awkward all the way around.

But adults?? Really???

I think it's hilarious. I go for walks on the path regularly with my Mom, who is a very friendly person. She used to live in a southern, sunny city where everyone you could make best friends with someone by talking to them in a grocery checkout line. Tiny New England town? Not so much. So she has no AHC whatsoever. I love going for walks with her because we'll see all these Nike-clad adults walking briskly ignoring everyone else and my mom will say something like, "Oh, Hi ____! It's me, from ____! How are you?" and try to strike up a friendly conversation. The other person is a little taken aback always, clearly surprised that Mom doesn't know the rules of AHC, and makes some small talk before continuing on. Sometimes they'll ignore her all together. The best is when there's a dog. My mom always comments how adorable it is, will soemtimes talk to the dog (no, really) in that squeaky baby-and-pet-voice before letting them walk by. Sometimes the people are nice and Mom will discuss our spastic black lab with them for a while beofre passing on, sometimes they'll just smile politely and yank the dog away. I think it's entertaining to see how different adults react to situations they aren't expecting; something that goes against their unspoken social rulebook. Try it sometime, create an awkward situation someone isn't expecting and see how they react. See if there's a section in their unwritten rulebook for that.

That of course, then begs the question, is the rulebook unspoken because it doesn't need to be? Or because it's all in people's heads? It's all a state of mind, really.

And it wouldn't hurt everyone to be a little friendlier.


♪: "Ants Marching" by Dave Matthews Band (although I'm not a fan, it suits the situation. I'm actually trying to learn to sing it because my boyfriend can play it on the piano and if I learn, we can play/sing together. I've told him I hate the song though, can't wait to surprise him ;))