Who's a bigot, me?
Elderly couple having lunch with very elderly and deaf parent.
Woman: "I really don't like it when two of a kind adopt."
Parent: "Eh?"
Woman, a little louder: "You know, two of a kind, it's not natural, when they adopt."
Parent: "What?"
Woman, louder still: "Two men or two women, they shouldn't, you know, adopt, little ones."
Parent: "What's that you're saying?"
Woman, desperate, but unable to stop now: "Two of the same kind, you know, the same sex, a couple of men or two women, they shouldn't adopt children. The grandchildren say we're old-fashioned; they say, it doesn't matter; but I say it matters, it's not right, it's not natural."
Parent: " What?"
Man, very loud: "SHE DOESN'T WANT HOMOSEXUALS ADOPTING CHILDREN, DOESN'T THINK IT'S RIGHT."
Women: "SSSSSHHHHH, that's not a very nice word to use. People might be offended."
It took some time for me to stop laughing enough to write you my appreciation. Wonderful! Earwigging or not, you have an exquisite sense of humor. And if the food in that place is half as good as the ambiance, I wish I were there this evening! Jim
ReplyDeletePeople are such an interesting study! Or is it just that people are such puzzlements? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking with Lynilu that all of us are puzzlements. So often, we fail to be aware of how our actions affect the world.
ReplyDeleteYou have a gift, Friko, for recognizing incongruities.
Peace.
My goodness. What gentile folks you are. On the other side of the pond homosexual is the kindest of words that would have been used.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Wayfarin' Stranger, would love have dinner there, politically incorrect or not.
(snort)
ReplyDeleteRarely do I ever wish I was somewhere other than I am, but damn, I would have enjoyed that. Reminds me of a long-ago acquaintance who had the amusing habit of ignoring annoying customers (shoe store), only to feign deafness and a speech impediment when their rage became too great to contain.
Thanks for the fun, Friko.
I've no problem with same sex couples adopting children, Elton John and David Furnish have :-).
ReplyDeletefamilies are all different shapes, sizes and genders. none of us were brought up exlusively by our parents - thanks goodness!!! steven
ReplyDeleteGod, imagine what their daily talks consist of....
ReplyDeleteBut, you know...I say the same thing about two Republicans adopting...
The comments here are great, as is your writing, as always. The ambiance in that place looks outstanding. What a perfect place to enjoy a bottle of wine (I have grapes on my mind).
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad families come in all shapes, sizes, and genders, as Steven pointed out. Yes, even Republicans. ;(
Eavesdropping can be such a good part of any event. Maybe it's the writer in us that wants to record them. Life and people are endlessly intriguing in all their permutations.
oh my...i love it when...ok i probably could not put up with it all day but...fun stuff friko
ReplyDeleteI love it!
ReplyDeleteWere we ever on the same page today. I sat in a ferry waiting room, captive audience to the most awful conversation among two young woman and a young man. I wanted to blog about it, but it was really too, too disgusting. It's not just the middle-aged middle class that are ignorant and prejudiced.
People are so entertaining, even when they don't intend to be. Your writing is addictive.
ReplyDeleteThis was priceless on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteLOL!
ReplyDeleteWarm Aloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
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Funny, but sad that there are still people that don't get it.
ReplyDeleteAh, if only we could see ourselves as others see us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other commentors on the welcoming ambiance of the place - looks like a perfect place to earwig as well as imbibe and eat.
Laughing at this. Were you able to look like you didn't hear this conversation? Keep a straight face?
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I can picture it so clearly.
What I don't understand is why 'Woman' brought up the topic at lunch time, in public? She must have known how deaf 'Elderly Parent' was. What else was going on in her mind that she chose that topic as a 'safe' one?
ReplyDeleteein schöner gemütlicher Platz, da würde ich gerne mit Dir ein Gläschen Wein trinken :-)!... und ich bin wohl etwas zu ernsthaft, mich hätte das Gespräch wohl eher nicht zum Lachen gebracht, sondern eher nachdenklich gestimmt...
ReplyDeleteDir einen ganz schönen, fröhlichen und guten Tag, liebe Friko!
Renée
ah the joy of overhearing conversations - you get this all the time on busses.
ReplyDeleteDid you know there are a lot of questions legally around gay couples being able to adopt? Why precicely?
As a hetrosexual you can go and father or mother children in any way you want and no one ever questions you before you start - and yet a couple who have thought long and hard over it have obstacles put in their way. Very, very sad
And where is that castle???????
You not only have and eye for a photo you have an ear fora conversation. Wish we were neighbors!
ReplyDeleteHello:
ReplyDeleteNowt so queer as folk!!!!
Now this was really funny! Everyone in the entire place must have heard her except for him. You sure made me smile with this one, Friko! :-)
ReplyDeleteFunny, but I am always so embarrassed if I sit next to people like this...as if I was responsible for their conversation.
ReplyDeleteSign on a building in New York City: Openly Gay, Secretly Republican. It is more difficult to be Republican these days.
ReplyDeleteDianne
You are a shrewd observer and a steely-eyed blogger, Friko. This is very sharp.
ReplyDeleteI propose they should buy the old lady a mobile and communicate by text messages. Failing that, there is always chalk and slate - but then we would all have missed a jolly good laugh.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I always love your posts, Friko
ReplyDeletePeople! Can't live with 'em, not allowed to shoot 'em.
ReplyDeleteI am giggling so loudly! This is priceless, Friko and would make the basis of an excellent stage show script!
ReplyDeleteOh, perfect. But sad as well.
ReplyDeleteThat's classic! i really laughed. You have a knack of spotting the ridiculousness that is not far beneath the surface in so many human situations.
ReplyDeleteSmall talk with the truly ancient is a mine field .
ReplyDeleteHaha, hilarious!! Although sad that the speakers wouldn't think so ... and sad that you can still hear such 'conversations' in many countries!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Hi Friko .. sometimes we just can't stop or hold off those comments or commenters - conversationalists, friends, parents et al .. I think I'll begat you the name "permanent earwigger" .. glad you're in recording mode - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteProper study
ReplyDeleteAnd intolerant homophobes like herself, of course, have every right to adopt?
ReplyDeleteHow on earth did you keep from screaming?!
XO
WWW
Oh my ... how does this thinking still exist?
ReplyDeleteAppallingly funny, or funnily appalling, or both. Someone asked, what was Woman thinking. I'd say not much!
ReplyDeleteA little late to be worrying about being offensive now, isn't she?
ReplyDeleteYou are a most excellent observer. How did you prevent yourself from murder?
Friko, This was, sadly, too funny! Many of the comments were intertaining as well.
ReplyDeletePeople are so strange, and I am always amazed at what is overheard in public. You'd think there would be some thinking going on . . . you'd think!
Friko, as a fellow eavesdropper, I love this post! So funny -- and yet not -- her fear of offending when her basic premise is offensive. There are so many children in the world needing love and forever families. There is a gay couple here in the Phoenix, AZ area who have adopted many children who otherwise would have languished in foster care and have built a warm and loving family. They have received a great deal of praise in an area many people consider impossibly conservative. So there is hope.
ReplyDeleteFriko - you have just rounded off a very boring Saturday, into a very gigglesome Saturnight for me. This post is stoating...!!!
ReplyDeleteSnakes use their tongues to smell. Weird, huh?
ReplyDeleteAwesome pictures!
Very funny - and equally sad.
ReplyDeleteThat was indeed amusing. At least the woman is open enough to discuss it with her grandchildren. She may learn something, yet.
ReplyDelete