A Great Conversation

Until tonight I really had only met one person I considered to be a master at the art of carrying on a conversation (you can find her blog here )she could talk to anyone and make them feel engaged and smarter for having had the conversation. Tonight I met another conversationalist, albeit with a completely different style. I had the honor of talking to a father of a friend of mine tonight (I'm not naming names simply because I don't know how they would feel about me doing so), this was the first time we'd ever met and after 15 or 20 minutes I knew more about this man than about people I've known 15 or 20 years. Why? Because he didn't bullshit or beat around the bush, he said what he thought and you didn't wonder if that was how he really felt or not. You knew everything he said was said with a heart felt conviction of it's veracity. We talked about the play and ended up discussing our families and opening up about things we're going through/had been through and he gave me some really good advice, advice I hope I can take to heart. Someone with that strong a sense of self amazes me, I've always been more of a people pleaser, wishy-washy, afraid to say what's really on my mind. The older I get though the more I feel as though I'm shaking some of that off and becoming more secure in myself. My friend came over with a look on her face that said, "I'm sorry my dad's bothering you, let me rescue you." But there was no need for a rescue, I truly enjoyed the conversation. As a caveat for another friend, who happens to be the son-in-law of the gentleman, I imagine it's no picnic being on the bad side of such an intense personality.