It won't last long, probably just another day or two. But once the weather gets scorching hot like it has been today, it gives license to anyone entering an elevator from the street floor to say, "Whew!...really a hot one!" And others in the elevator will nod, or sigh, or say something like "You can say that again..."
It's one of those humanizing things about the Big City. We'll take a subject over which there is little controversy (no one can disagree that 96 degrees in the shade is hot) and we'll use it to acknowledge not only our neighbors and colleagues when we see them on the street, but strangers, too.
Only last a couple of days, though. Then we're back to more of the silent kind of elevator behavior. We'll think of something else, though. New Yorkers really do like to talk to others, even if they appear to be gruff on occasion. Just give us a hot day to gripe about and we'll be off and running.
Author of I is for Intercourse: The ABC's of Conversation, Susan Bird is the visionary behind Wf360, and a sought-after speaker around the world for her views on leadership, the strategic importance of conversation, entrepreneurship, and the role of women business leaders.
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