Cross posted from Dad the Single Guy:

There are lots of signs out there-some that are really obvious, like the ones on the road when you are driving. Some that are designed to make you take an action, like a sale sign in a store, and some that are societal-a parent non-verbally communicating with their children, unspoken communication between siblings or the underpinnings of a conversation; at least partially implied.

And so it goes.

Over the extended spring break the girls have had from school, I’ve done a lot of driving-and read lots of signs on highways and roads. Those are pretty easy. I’ve also started doing some camp shopping, and although it can be confusing the sale signs in stores are pretty evident and can be read pretty easily.

Last night I went out to dinner with my kids, and was not overly happy with their behavior at the table. After a warning, came the look. You know it. You use it. Your parents used it on you. The look. A non-spoken sign, but sign none the less.

Then comes the much tougher ones-the ones that are implied or at least partially implied through conversation or actions. The ones that carry a lot of meaning to the conveyor, but if missed can create an awkward moment for all.

I was at the gym this morning, just doing my thing. Generally at the gym I am not a talker, it’s not a social event for me. That said, there are a couple of people I know at the gym-most because of the years I’ve been going and others are from the community and we cross paths at the gym. This morning I was talking to a friend in the former category-someone who I crossed paths with two gyms ago and has moved gyms over the years on about the same schedule as I do.

(BTW, there is a whole post about changing gyms-its not a very easy thing to do)

As I was talking with John, a woman I recognize from the gym I work out in now came up to us and interjected herself into the conversation. After just a few minutes of idol chit-chat with no real meaning, I kind of peeled away, but the ear-buds back in and got back at it. Five minutes later I looked over and John was still engaged.

Twenty minutes later, now on the treadmill, John got onto the open one next to me and told me the woman I turned away from wants to go out. Now, I’ve seen her just about every day for the last six months, we’ve waved and nodded-I think I’ve even had a quick conversation on an elliptical machine (boxed in with nowhere to run). But I’ve never gotten that vibe.

So now I have to think about what tomorrow will be like. I’ll go for avoidance-just to keep it simple. But now I know. Have to read ALL the signs.