Talking to Strangers
I had an extended conversation on an airplane a few days ago, with someone I met because we happened to be seated next to each other. I’ve found myself mulling over how pleasant it was to chat with a stranger for hours and trying to figure out why it felt so remarkable. As a younger woman, I largely felt accosted by the insistent conversation efforts of men roughly the age of my father. They smiled indulgently when I said I…