I should stop talking.
But I can’t just stop talking. It would be weird if I abruptly stopped mid-sentence. I need an unobtrusive ending to this paragraph. Quick.
His eyes are glazing over. I really need to stop talking.
“Ask more questions,” my supervisor says. I’m not asking questions right now; I’m providing an overly verbose explanation.
Why am I providing this overly verbose explanation? What is it about this interaction such that I feel compelled to offer a justification?
I’m not talking for the patient’s benefit; I’m talking to mitigate my own anxiety.
I should stop.
I think I’m worried about offending him. That’s why I am engaging in this lengthy pontification. I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not mean to offend.
Why do I think he’d be offended? That’s interesting. Not now—save that for later.
I’m still talking! He hasn’t blinked in some time now. I need to re-engage him—pull the brakes on this soliloquy train and transfer to the Socratic car.
I’m saying “um” a lot right now.
And there’s the closing phrase—wait for it—close your mouth—and stop.
He looked at me blankly.
“Okay,” he eventually ventured.
21 May 2007 |