Social Norms

I ran into a co worker last week who had just come back from two months off.  They asked me how my Summer was.  I paused.  I was pausing to consider a polite way to say "it was really mixed and some of it was awful and no I didn't do anything or go anywhere and I have nothing to tell you."  And what I said was "Well, I had a Summer."  And I said it as cheerily as I could manage, I really did.

This person INSISTED.... OH, tell me the BEST parts of your Summer!  Which, I'm sorry, but that really ticked me off.  I don't remember what I said, but it was likely something neutral but someone else that I do feel comfortable with and who clearly knows me pretty well said something about "she already answered that, I know what she means" and I sort of mumbled I don't know what and went on my way but I really do have a hard time with what feels like forced positivity.

Now part of it is that this isn't a person I'm comfortable with and part of it was trying to be socially aware (there are norms and expectations after all) but part of it was also trying not to be rude.... but also being tired and grumpy and not wanting to engage.

I get it if you're a positive happy person, but this didn't feel like that, this felt like someone I'm not comfortable with wanting more out of me than I'm willing to give them and I don't talk about work so I should probably stop talking now but some of us don't want to go through those "post break" social norm small talk conversations.  (And I will now avoid said co worker on Mondays due to the high risk of "how was your WEEKEND????" type questions..... sigh.)