Twinkle: Fun Sink Can't Help But Meddle

Rule of thumb: when you enter a room and the conversation noticeably dies down, they're either talking about you or they're talking about something that's none of your business.

This happened to me tonight post-dinner. I'd been chasing little girls around and was going to return to the table and sit down with Mr. Twinks and his anorexic dad. When I approached the table, their hushed whispers ceased. Since I really didn't think they were talking smack about me, I concluded that the topic was none of my business and went elsewhere in Grandma-in-law's condo.

Since Mr. Twinks is an estate planning attorney and his dad's an accountant, sometimes they have the same clients. There are also family members who use them both and their duties overlap so they talk about that stuff sometimes, and it's confidential. Also, sometimes they talk about super-secret Jewish community intrigues that I couldn't care less about. So...they're either talking about tax clients or some stupid budgetary issue that went down at the latest JCC board meeting...either way I don't care and it's none of my business, and it would be stupid and inappropriate of me to sit down and say, "What? What are you all talking about?"

It's called taking social cues; Fun Sink should learn about it.

When we got home, I brought it up the fact that I'd almost sat down but could tell they were talking about something private.

Me: Were you and your dad talking about something top secret when I walked in? It seemed like you all got really quiet, so I tried to excuse myself gracefully.

Mr. Twinkle: Oh, yeah. We were talking about [relative/client's name]. You weren't at all inappropriate. Unlike my mom.

Apparently Fun Sink knew exactly who they were talking about, and kept obnoxiously poking her head in and trying to eavesdrop. And the best part: Mr. Twinkle thought it was annoying and inappropriate. He knows she's nothing but a meddling old gossipmonger.

How does it feel to be the cool, understanding, privacy-respecting wife, standing in stark contrast to the nosy, meddling mother? It feels fabulous, I tell you!