Interesting

Interesting...

Interesting is such an interesting word.  In our family it has several different connotations.   When WJJ and I are chatting about something we are planning, and I come up with what I believe is a great idea that differs from his, then he will say, “That’s interesting.” 

Example:  If he has decided that we should take a cruise and I say, “You know what? We haven’t been to Paris in years, what do you think? Shall we go to Europe?” WJJ will respond, “Well that’s interesting.”  That means, Tiffany you don’t understand we are going on the cruise.

Jamie is different.  If someone makes a statement that he believes is completely incorrect, and has not a modicum of accuracy, then he will say, “That’s interesting”.

Of course, like WJJ he also uses “that’s interesting” if he too, has no intention of considering the concept.  If he thinks the idea is slightly exciting, he will say, “Well, I don’t hate it.”  But don’t get too excited.  That usually means there’s only a part of the idea that he is entertaining. 

Example:  If Cheryl says, “Jamie, how about going to Paris this summer?” Jamie will respond, “Well Cheryl, I don’t hate that idea.  While Cheryl is busy online researching the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and Montmartre, Jamie is making plans to go on a family trip to Six Flags Magic Mountain.  What Jamie means by “I don’t hate it” is “No way we are going to Paris, but going away on a family trip this summer is a good idea.”

When I say, “That’s interesting”, I usually mean your idea is completely out of my thought process. But before I tell you, “You’re whacky”, I need to ponder the concept to see if there is any basis for consideration. 

Again, for example:  If WJJ suddenly said to me, “Let’s go camping next summer, just the two of us”.  I would answer “Well, that’s interesting. Tell me more.”

I used that for example purposes only.  There is not a shot in H*** that WJJ would want to go camping.  I know you’re not going to believe this, but I would be more apt to give that a try. WJJ -- forget it. He thinks camping is staying at the Holiday Inn.  To be fair to him, he did serve in the “rice paddies” of Vietnam.  So sleeping in tents outdoors is definitely not his forte. It really isn’t mine either.  I am trying to convince WJJ to spend a month in Montana in winter.  Thus far, I haven’t even gotten a “that’s interesting”.

Now when Cheryl says, “that’s interesting”, because she has no “blood relationship” with us, she actually means, “that’s interesting.” She wants to hear more.  Unlike the rest of us, she uses the term honestly.  What a concept! 

Example:  If I said, “I really would like to go to Paris!” Cheryl would respond, “Oh how interesting, how exciting! Tell me all about your plans.” Poor Cheryl, she doesn’t understand that WJJ is going to kibosh the idea anyway, so there’s no reason to chat about it. 

Last but not least, Niccie.  Niccie was a “slow talker” when she was younger.  Other than WJJ, we were all concerned about her lack of talking in her early years.  WJJ said often, “Trust me she’s fine. She’s a girl. Some time in the not so distant future, she’ll be chatting incessantly.”

She’s 7.  That time is here. 

So Niccie will be telling a story and Paris is brought up, “ Oh Niccie, Tutu loves Paris!” She’ll respond, “Oh Tutu, that’s interesting…” and then go on with her story without skipping a beat.  So Niccie’s, “that’s interesting” simply means, “I couldn’t care less, why did you interrupt my story?”

Well, welcome to the James Family.  While we are far from perfect, we are “interesting” --whatever that means!