Welcome back to another blog hop, with #OpenBook. Here’s this week’s prompt.
Don’t forget to click the link to see what everyone else has to say on this week’s subject. It’s at the end of my post.
Who is the most interesting person you’ve ever met?
In my life, I’ve met some amazing people, with fascinating stories to tell. People who could hold you enthralled for hours. Most, if not all of them, are people who appeared unremarkable on the outside. And you would never have heard of them.
It’s shown me that everyone can be interesting, as long as you can discern the interesting from the weird. And be prepared to encourage them to talk.
I was educated by people who had experienced war.
Although they never talked much about the specifics, you could see their life experiences in the way they behaved and the example they set.
For example, my French teacher at secondary school had been a member of the French resistance, captured and tortured by the Gestapo. And the quiet man who was one of my form tutors had been a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain. They didn’t glorify war, or make a big thing about what they’d done. It was the matter-of-fact way they talked about it that made it all the more enthralling.
Later, at sea, I shared voyages with people who had visited places and seen or done things that would fill the pages of magazines.
Ordinary people, doing extraordinary things. With the ability to tell you about them in a way that almost had you there.
Things that you’d hardly believe were possible.
Until things happened to you and you started to amass your own selection of stories.
It was also surprising to meet someone and find that they had heard about some of your own more interesting experiences.
I’ve also met a few famous people. Household names, here in the UK, and internationally. Of course, the mere fact of being famous doesn’t automatically make you interesting, but some of them were.
Strangely, the most interesting person I ever met, I know nothing about. It involved a voyage that the ship I was on undertook to Russia, back in 1977. The person was an apparently nondescript official from the British Embassy, who turned up at the last port before we went into the Black Sea. A man you’d never give a second glance to, if you saw him in the street. He never gave us his name. But he radiated authority and power. As it happened, he had a little job for us. The Official Secrets Act was also involved.
Enough said.
What do you think about this week’s subject?
Let me know by leaving me a comment.
While you’re here, please click the InLinkz link to check out what my fellow writers have to say about this week’s topic.
I’ll be back with another post on Thursday, see you then. Meanwhile, have a great week.
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Stevie Turner
Yes, it’s often the quiet and unassuming people who can be the most interesting. They don’t shout out their life stories from the rooftops.
Richard Dee
Very true. Yvonne and I seem to attract people who want to tell us their life stories. No wonder I get so many book ideas.
Snapdragon
I talk about someone who was in the army. People who serve in the military are interesting.
Richard Dee
AS an ex-sailor, I think that we have the best stories.
P.j. MacLayne
So many folks don’t realize how interesting their personal stories are.
Richard Dee
In my case, I think that what I did isn’t interesting because it was just a part of my daily life. What others did seems far more exciting. Maybe they feel the same?
Lela Markham
That’s been my experience too – those who have the limelight are usually (not always) the least interesting of all.
Richard Dee
The quiet ones have the best stories.
Kelly Williams
I loved sitting with veterans. I felt like they really got it—what mattered. They’ve meant the world to me for their sacrifices, and I’m endlessly sad thinking they’re disappearing from this world. Their wisdom is needed, but I am afraid we’ve squandered it.
Richard Dee
I share that sentiment.