請和陌生人說話

I believe that we should talk to strangers. By engaging in unexpected friendly conversation with strangers， our lives can be affected in ways that are extraordinary. I learned this valuable and life-changing experience during my sophomore year of college.

I am a student and part-time waitress in Chicago， and I spend most of my time at work engaging in as little real conversation as possible. This is not done intentionally， but rather， instinctively. Growing up， I was used to phrases such as “Don’t talk to strangers”and “Mind your own business.” As a result， I don’t talk to unknown people at work beyond taking orders and the occasional weather chat. Similarly， I never strike up a conversation on a 3-hour plane flight or know the name of the woman I ride the train with every day. But the process of keeping to myself ended in a life-changing way.

One night a little old man， probably in his 80s， came in and sat in my section. I took his order and went on my way. But I noticed that he came in， week after week， and always sat at one of my tables. Slowly I began having short conversations with my new guest. His name was Mr. Rogers， but he insisted that I call him Don. I learned that he and his wife had gone to dinner and a movie every Saturday. Since she had died， he carried on this tradition alone. I began looking forward to him coming in and telling me his movie reviews. I also knew his order by heart: a half a chicken salad sandwich， a cup of potato soup and a bottle of 1)Coors Light， which he never finished.

As the weeks went on， I began to sit and really talk with Don. We talked about his wife， his days flying in the war， his son who had grown and moved away. Eventually we began to talk about my ambitions; going to school and the anticipation of my future.

About four months after meeting Mr. Rogers， I received a call at home from a nurse， telling me that Don was in 2)intensive care at Chicago’s Mercy Hospital. He was experiencing 3)complications from an emergency heart surgery， and had begun to bleed 4)internally. I immediately drove to the hospital to see him. The first thing he did was thank me for urging him to visit the doctor. At first I didn’t know what he was referring to. Then I remembered that about three weeks earlier Don was complaining about chest pains and I gave him the number for a doctor I know. At the hospital the nurses always asked， “Are you his daughter?”， and I always replied， “No， I’m his waitress”.

Since meeting Don I have learned that strangers can become 5)acquaintances and even friends. I recently found myself really talking to customers at the restaurant. I’ve had a lot more fun， the time has gone by faster， and I’ve gotten to know some of the people I see on a regular basis.

Don taught me that life can be much more enjoyable if I engage in friendly conversations. After all， I became more than just his waitress. I became his friend.

我認為我們應該和陌生人說話。通過與陌生人之間進行意外的友好談話，我們的人生將會受到非比尋常的影響。我上大二的時候學到了這份改變人生的珍貴經驗。

我是芝加哥的一名學生，兼職當服務員。我工作的時候，大部分時間都極少與人真正地交談。我可不是故意這么干的，而是本能如此。從小到大，我一直習慣了諸如“別和陌生人說話”“別多管閑事”這樣的話。結果，在工作時除了點餐以及偶爾閑聊天氣外，我不會和不認識的人說話。同樣地，我從不會在一趟三小時的航班上跟別人打開話題，我也不知道每天和我坐同一趟火車的女人叫什么名字。然而我這種孤僻封閉的狀態最后以一種改變我人生的方式結束。

一天晚上，一個大概80多歲的瘦小老頭走了進來，坐在我負責的服務區里。我為他點了餐，然后繼續做我的事。后來，我發覺他一周接一周地來這里并總是坐在我負責的其中一張桌子旁。慢慢地，我與我的新客人開始了一些簡短的對話。他叫羅杰斯先生，但他堅持讓我稱他為唐。我了解到他和妻子以前每個周六都會在外共進晚餐，并且一起去看電影。自從她去世后，他就獨自一人繼續他倆的老習慣。我開始盼望著他來就餐，告訴我他的電影觀后感。我也記住了他的常規餐單：半份撒拉三文治，一碗土豆湯，還有一瓶他總是喝不完的銀子彈啤酒。

時間一周一周地過去，我開始坐下來認真地和唐聊天。我們聊關于他妻子的事，他在戰場當飛行員的日子，以及他已經長大成人并且搬到外面居住的兒子。……