Eavesdropping

It is yet again through my experience (and no I'm not ancient), that I know that people love to know what's going on with other people. Just open a small crevice in a window and show what's happening with the neighbour, and there you go, you get full attention. It's happened on Nies ta' Veru, it's happened on Arani Issa, and it's still happening on Arani Issa. Because people love to spy, eavesdrop. And this in turn make great TV viewership. Perhaps it's a Maltese addiction, but my guess is we're not very different from the whole world. It's easier for us because we can relate faster to whoever is in the spotlight... the cousin of the brother of the grandma of this and that. It's a long shot, but that is exactly what happens. People do not stop me in the street for nothing. Sure it's always an 'ghid lil huk l-avukat prosit'. As if they had to define my brother being the lawyer, I only have one brother anyway. And the 'prosit tal-programm' means, oh boy we had a lovely time watching what's happening to other people, you satisfied our curiosity.. oh and that what's her name has a cousin who lives close by. What and how do I respond to that? Usually by saying nothing, just nodding and wishing people wouldn't waste my time. Don't get me wrong, I am not a snob, I love colourful people, people from all walks of life. They are far more interesting than someone wearing a tie, or high heels and carrying a briefcase. For one, they are far more honest. They do not hide the fact that you have satisfied their curiosity. White collar workers are more deviant. They ask the same thing, rephrasing it so that it sounds more chic. Chic? It's the same, but counting the massive number of earrings on one woman is far more entertaining than having an Armani/Gucci pair of sunglasses at your face. Because of course, the snobby ones cannot even look at you in the face, they hate you looking at them in the face, so they wear the glasses. The 'normal' people... well they are at least so honest about it. No sunglasses there, instead you'll be looking at heavily smudged mascara and garish lipstick. But it's the same. Just more entertaining. I would also love to tell them that perhaps they should address some of the 'prosit' to me, seeing that I am responsible for most of the workload a TV programme like that needs. But I don't want to be famous. I want to be able to walk down Republic Street freely. The last time I walked down the same street with my brother was a nightmare. It took us two solid hours to get through because people kept stopping him. How boring. And now Christmas is coming, it'll be another nightmare to Christmas shop with him. Don't get me wrong, I love shopping, and I'm a hard shopper, but shopping is when you buy things not when you keep stopping every few feet because someone wants to talk to you.

Anyway, I have to cut this short, I'm going shopping again. Will be back.