I'm noticing more and more my use of certain non-committal sighs and grunts to continue a conversation when I'm totally lost. I'm not sure if I'm making them more often in order to survive, or if I'm just noticing (and valuing) them more. That certain, nebulous response-that-keeps-people-talking-while-I-figure-out-what-the-heck-they're-talking-about can be vital.
Posted by nickles at September 26, 2006 12:51 PM | TrackBackI think you've always done that as long as I've known you... but right now there's probably more that you don't understand...? You also do it sometimes when you're not listening or don't want to listen, if I'm imagining the sound correctly. :-)
Posted by: Evan at September 27, 2006 03:21 PMmmmmmhhhh....mmmhhhh...it think that's the sound.
Posted by: john at September 27, 2006 11:08 PMThat's TOTALLY the sound. You're both spot-on!
But nowadays, I'm making it while I'm concentrating really hard on what the speaker is trying to communicate. There's also an "oh," and "ooh," and some whiffing sound that ends in an fff (to express surprise, if I think I should do so).
Posted by: bob at September 28, 2006 10:29 AMok, i've been reading these comments these days and totally having a great time, because even I know what evan and jon are talking about and i haven't even been around that long! and then the whiffing sound part just took the cake. what a great way to end the lunch break.
Posted by: sarah j. at September 28, 2006 02:07 PMSarah,
I don't think its necessary for you to live with him to know these noises. I can't pinpoint a time when I have heard it, but I can hear it . . . I have heard it. I know what they are talking about.
Although, if you have lived with Bob, you realize not only that he makes those noise but also that they epitomize him in a nostalgic sort of way.
Posted by: Evan at October 1, 2006 05:18 PM