people watch

So here I am sat all alone in a cafe in Lisbon. There has been children playing, diners eating, people drinking and enjoying the ambience of the evening outside...

Straight in front of me are two young and who I presume to be lovers, I could be wrong but if not lovers then good friends or sister and brother but for sure definitely together in one way or another.

I know not of their background as to how they met but I have noticed one aspect of this couple to which is of interest.

Others around me have, like I mentioned eaten, drunk and are being communicative with each other.

The couple have also been communicative however their communication has been strictly with their mobile devices. They sat and enjoyed their meal as their plates which were once filled with food are now clean of food. Throughout the entirety of their meal you could see their hands swiping the screens on their devices and definitely no talking with each other...

For myself as I sat and watched it was quite sad. For the food was good as all gone. The drinks were good as all gone. No doubt they enjoyed the evening. Though their lack of interest in each other was to me amazing.

When I spend time with another person I enjoy that time and I enjoy that traditional communication called talking as opposed to typing to someone who is not in my immediate vicinity. Could be on the other side of the globe.

Relationships are about sharing quality time and discussing the day you have just shared i believe. Or maybe I am just being old. Let's not kids ourselves I remember the days before mobile phones let alone the internet. I first connected on a dial up and thought that was the dogs bollocks! 😁

Should I feel this uneasy at what I perceive to be a lack of communication or is this the way that the human race is evolving? Always on the go sharing time spent with cyber friends whilst ignoring the loved ones nearby?

To me the only touch that was made was to a screen rather than a touch of hands, a look into each others eyes, a smile passed, which touches the very soul we have.

I guess this may just be the way...