Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Am I a bad person?
I feel that I’m really good with faces, I almost never forget if I’ve met a person or not. However, my ability to put names or relevant details with those faces lags sorely behind.
This is a persistent problem when I go get coffee. I’m constantly running into the same older woman and for the life of me, I can’t remember if she’s one of the baristas just visiting on her day off (no, she isn’t wearing a uniform) or if she’s one of the nurses that has routinely drawn blood from me on the bloodmobile. She always smiles and says “Hi,” but I cowardly respond with “Hi,” but take evasive conversational maneuvers beyond that. If I had one detail, I’d at least venture a, “How’s it going.” At least then, I may be able limp along a three minute exchange.
What do I do? Thank her for the excellent skinny non-fat sugar-free latte or thank her for not taking too much of the life-sustaining red stuff?
I’m sure if Dante was still around, he’d assign yet another ring of damnation where you’re pretty sure you know everyone there but you can’t place a single name.
I guess the real answer here, at least if I’m an honorable person, is to find a different place to get coffee. Or give up coffee all together.
Tags: Everyday Life
February 27th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Here’s what to say the next time you see her:
Mystery lady: “Hi!”
Chris: “Hey, do you have a minute?”
M.L.: “Sure!”
Chris: “I realized that I run into you all the time, but I can’t remember where we met in the first place. I’m Chris, and I buy coffee and donate blood.”
M.L.: “That’s so funny! You’re more forgetful than my uncle Wally. I’m Charlene, and I’m the pump attendant at the gas station.”
Chris: “Oh, that’s right! Gosh, I feel ridiculous. Thanks, Charlene!”
M.L.: “Oh, that’s fine. But I expect a tip on your next tank of gas! Ha ha!”