I can identify with that totally.........

So at least it will taste good when we put our foot in our mouths

getting diagnosed with autism as an adult. (BTW, we're all assholes, esp. me. But life's too short to stay cave-bound.)

Always had ADHD, but now I wonder. Would explain a lot!

"No one has to say anything, so when someone compliments you, the easy
and correct response is to thank them and smile."

Oh now go find her.

I think that's a huge reason I never got on social media. If it's not on the web it never happened ..lol

Edit to add I got her number and sent her a text telling her how good it was to see her and I'd like to catch up

halfway there.

But they were all missed opportunities, not utterances.

So, despite being unaware in social situations, I have always thought things through a second ahead of time before speaking, and that has saved my ass time and time again.

Those missed opportunities will never come back, but you still have the opportunity to say

"Did I say that? Holy Guacamole!"
"I thought we would never meet again, but there you go. I was wrong and glad that I was"

"Were you on social media? I have been too busy {inventing the next great thing, composing symphonies ... whatever you can back up}

and some pithy quote about people meeting after a long time.
There are probably many literary examples.

Or music:
"We'll meet again, don't know where, don't know when"
Used in ending of "Doctor Strangelove"

Back in those days (probably still tbh) teachers just thought I was attention seeking and a bad kid who didn't want to listen.

Teacher: what's 5 times 8
Me: I had an onion for breakfast

Hard to fit in with "normal" society. I had the same problem. I always seemed "in the wrong time"

Try to make the best of your situation.

Maybe some time-wasters like "Wow", or "Can you imagine that" or anything that will pass the buck, let the other person speak and lead the conversation. Your replies can get cues from that lead, so they don't spring entirely from the creative corner of your brain.

I resist the urge to reply "Gee, that reminds me of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle in my daily life"
I try to keep things simple.

Listening is an art, and the key to good conversations, but it doesn't happen in a split-second, naturally.

Not expert advice. I just managed to do OK in very different situations over time.

And I read a bunch of pop-psychology books and marketing, when I was the techie on a sales team.

Have some interesting stories saved up, but you never know what the other person wants to hear until they open up. Let them, if you can. They have stories to tell, too.

HTH

Thanks for sharing this. 👍

Isn't our little Loners group awesome!

We get each other. Also, how did you make it through the booms of the 4th? I think I remember that you had neighbors who terrorized the animals

Mine werent as bad this year. They stopped lighting them pretty early thank goodness

Me and my pets always emerge from my bedroom like refugees on the 5th

My firebug neighbor passed away. No, rapid-fire gunshots or fireworks anymore. I guess until the family, if he had any, which is a mystery, decides what to do with his property. For now, it's peace for Nollie and me and eternal rest for him. Amen.

It was rejuvenatingly serene. I'm so glad my little Nollie didn't have to suffer being terrorized. Such a blessing.

❤️😎👋