The Wilful Sunflower

Most people remember faces, or if not then at least they remember names. Me? I sometimes remember faces... and sometimes remember nothing. I swear, it can make for some extremely embarrassing moments.

Like when fellow Malaysian blogger Silencer responded to one of my comments on his blog by saying, "Sunflower, I can't believe you forgot me already, lol. We both shared experience as journalists [lol]..."

I was shocked. "I know you? I've met you before?!"

Inside, I was like, "Sei loh (Cantonese for "die lah")... aiyo, how embarrassing... who the heck is he?!??" The only way I can console myself is by hoping that I actually remember his real name and not his nickname. Maybe when I see him in person, it'll all come back to me... although I have grave doubts about that!

Turns out we met at one of those blogger meets some months ago. By the way, despite the fact that the Malaysian bloggers are going to meet up at the Project Petaling Street anniversary bash two weeks from now, they still gatal (itchy) want to meet this Sunday... and at 10am of all times. Why the ungodly hour? *mutters* I'm going to cekik (strangle) the fella who suggested it when I meet him/her *mutters*

[Update: Peter's the one who suggested it and I can't strangle Peter, of all people, soooo... I guess I'll just have to yawn and bear it. Heh.]

Back to topic: the other day, at one of my work assignments, I bumped into a fellow journalist from a Malay daily. "Hi, haven't seen you for such a long time!" she said. Outwardly I smiled and said all the right things. Inwardly, again I was wondering, "Who the heck is she??" Her face didn't look familiar AT ALL.

This has happened often enough that I've come to the conclusion that people tend to remember me -- how or why, I don't know. I just hope I am memorable in a good way and not a bad way!

There was the friend I met at a youth camp in 1992 who recognised my name when I happened to send him an email in 2001, nine years later... and another friend whom I met a camp in 1995 who also recognised my name when I sent him an email in 2003, eight years later. In both these cases, not only did their names not ring a bell, but when I saw a photo of the first guy and met up with the second guy in person, their faces didn't look familiar to me either! And I know I definitely did meet the second guy at camp, coz I have his autograph in my camp book, for crying out loud.

Even if I remember the face, more often than not I can't dredge up the name that goes with it. There was the time I bumped into my former high school classmate... the funny thing is, I knew who she was -- I could even remember that her mother had been the penolong kanan (assistant principal) of our school -- but I just could not remember her name. Arrrgh!

I've told my housemates that, if I meet them on the street 10 years down the road and don't recognise them or remember their names, please don't take it personally, coz it's got nothing to do with them, it's just the way I am. Emmy said, "I'll KILL you!" Um... okay... that does kinda make her feelings on the matter pretty clear... :P