Guy at the bus stop in Portland told me his life story over a bag of chips

I was waiting for the #12 bus downtown around 4pm last Tuesday, and this older dude just plops down next to me. He offers me a chip and then starts explaining how he once trained pigeons to deliver messages across his neighborhood. I still don't know if he was messing with me or not, but it was way more interesting than scrolling my phone. Has anyone else had a random stranger lay out something that wild right off the bat?

2 comments

2 Comments

jana_scott24d ago

Oh man, you gotta keep a bag of chips in your backpack at all times for exactly this reason! I always carry an extra snack because strangers open up way easier when food is involved. Next time just ask him to show you a pigeon trick, see if he follows through.

emmag2223d ago

Funny how food turns into a social key everywhere, not just in parks. I noticed it at work, someone brings donuts and suddenly the quiet guy in the corner is telling everyone about his cat's weird habits. Even at the bus stop, offering a piece of gum can get a total stranger talking about their day. It's like we all need a little excuse to break the ice, and a snack gives us that without feeling too weird. Makes you wonder if we'd all just talk more if every conversation came with a side of chips.