Awkward Acquaintances

I am writing from my hotel room in Washington, D.C. For the last few days, I have been here for a leadership conference as the North Dakota State National Honor Society President. It has been an absolutely incredible experience, and I have met so many people. Upon these meetings, I’ve realized a few habits common with awkward acquaintances.
It’s funny the way we suddenly become very, painfully aware of what we say when we are around people we have just met. This doesn’t mean everything I say is well thought out, just that while and after I speak, I analyze my voice, infliction, vocabulary, and wording way more than usual. Basically, according to my observations, everything a new acquaintance tells me is either “crazy,” “nuts,” “insane,” “hilarious” or “so funny.” Ironically, rarely does anything they say fall under any of those categories. Yet those are the lines that I automatically respond with, no matter what.
Why are new acquaintances constantly telling stories, anyway? I seriously doubt that it’s to listen to me assure them in a monotone, robotic voice, with a sad attempt at an impressed or shocked face, “No way. You read the book before you saw the movie? You are so crazy! Like, really, that’s insane,” or “You don’t match your socks? That’s hilarious! Seriously, you’re nuts. That’s so funny.” These are the phrases I say, people! Before you judge me, you should know that I have been hearing the same exact sentences from everyone else here, so I know I’m not the only one!
Unfortunately, it’s either automatic phrases or word vomit. You know the kind. I’m talking hard-core babbling. Motor-mouth word flow. I physically cannot control my talking and its high speed. My thoughts come straight out of my mouth at the very second I think them, and I mean the ones that you normally keep to yourself, for good reasons. I won’t give you any direct quotes on these episodes—I’ve got to keep a little bit of dignity! Hopefully your speaking skills are much better than mine. If not, at least you have been warned, should you ever talk to me in person. It will be crazy, nuts, insane, hilarious, and so funny, I’m sure.
Always, Anna