'Gloria Estefan is the copper plumbing of the music industry.'

Situation: Losing yourself in the middle of a conversation.

'I’ve heard the old expression “Where ever you go, there you are” countless times.

It’s a good saying except one thing. It’s just not true. The reason the saying is false is because when our minds are deprived of stimulation, they end up wandering off somewhere else. So, yes, you may have gone some place, but you’re not there at all. You’re somewhere else entirely. Probably trying to remember the words to the Oscar Mayer Wiener song.

Now, the type of stimulation the brain needs is not the kind of stimulation like being tickled with a feather. The mind is too mature for that (not so the inside of your knees which are always up for being tickled). The mind craves interesting conversation. Which brings us back to the party and Karen.

Karen, it turns out, is a bore (which is why I’m guessing you forgot her name in the first place). She’s been talking to you a long time about this and that, but you just drifted off.

“Fat kids, skinny kids, even kids with chicken pox loves hot-dogs…..” That’s not right.

You’re kind of aware that her mouth is moving but you have no idea what she’s saying. Then you hear the words “inhaling mold spores” and like THAT! BAM! You’re back. You have no idea what the conversation is and Karen has just stopped talking. She’s just staring at you (or slightly to the right of you because of her lazy eye) expecting you to say something. What do you do?

What

Do

YOU

Do?

Solution: Some people might say that you could try to fake Karen out by nodding your head and by going “HMMMM HMMM… I see… HMM HMM HMM” I’m here to tell you that’s not going to work unless she’s part of 1/10 of 1% of the population who are people that are hypnotized by the sound of humming.

The only way to get out of this situation, as I’ve learned from a very funny comedian I once heard, is to say “Gloria Estefan” Trust me, if you’re committed to this, she can fit into any conversation. Don’t believe me? Here’s some proof.

Karen’s still staring at you waiting for a response while you’ve dutifully considered and rejected the “HMM” option and so you respond with “That reminds me a lot of Gloria Estefan.”

To which she replies, “What does that have to do with copper plumbing?”

And you state the facts, “Well, she’s just the copper plumbing of the music industry… that’s all. I mean, think about it. She’s beautiful, durable, built to last… Just think about how she rebounded from that bus accident. ARE YOU GOING TO DEBATE ME ON THIS??”'