As someone who grew up in the greater Boston area and now lives in NYC, I have to confess that the idea of being spontaneously nice to a stranger doesn't really make any sense to me.

Bwah! So true. Though I have noticed that I get way more people coming up to me and asking for directions if I have Dylan with me. Apparently the baby accessory makes me look approachable.

Cracks me up that I'm the "Talk to Random People on the Street" person surrounded by "ACK! HUMAN! GO AWAY!" people.

Dick Cheney in Maine (we also discussed deviled ham)

As in, he IS one? i.e. evil pig?

If this ends up being a recurring dream t /hope kick 'em one for me.

Happy Birthday, Tom!

I found people in New York to be surprisingly friendly and helpful. I tripped over some pavement and fell on 5th Ave and three different people stopped to help me up.

I sat next to this woman on the bus yesterday that was having a most exuberant phone conversation. Exuberant enough that I knew she'd talk to me as soon as she hung up. And she did. I'm not sure what was up with that. At the bus stop I'd had an older guy stand just out of earshot and mumble things to me, to which I just smiled and broke eye contact. I do know he called me a pretty young lady, which, at 39, he can stick up his weirdo butt.

I don't in general mind talking to strangers. When I do mind it is when I may ever have to encounter them again and remember them from Adam. Can't promise to do that.

People often say that folks in DC are unfriendly...so I guess I go out of my way to counter that. And, of course, I have the benefit of living in an actual neighborhood, from which I seldom stray...so that might have something to do with the disconnect.

It's funny. I was born in FL, grew up in CA (parts of which I loved...I'm looking at you San Diego and Carmel), but I believe I did not come fully alive until I landed on Capitol Hill.

Oh, Sue, I'd love that recipe too!

Actually, for black people there are totally different rules of talking to strangers.

Oh, Sue, I'd love that recipe too!

I'll post it when I can find it.

Actually, for black people there are totally different rules of talking to strangers.

There are? Like what?

Pretty much everyone in Boston seemed nice and friendly enough on my various visits there. Except the maniacs that were driving. But then again I apparently project as fairly stand-offish in the South, so maybe I just fit in better there?

I'll rent cars and drive in LA despite unexpectedly ending up in Hermosa Beach on one occasion. And drive through Dallas and Atlanta even if I grumble a bit at the traffic. Even hitting the Beltway in Washington during rush hour with a splitting migraine didn't put me off driving like my first trip to Boston did.