People amnesia
I officially have the worst ever memory when it comes to remembering people.
As I was buying lunch today, a lady greeted me (isn't that how these things always start?). "Hi, Sunflower," she said.
She looked kinda familiar but I had no idea who she was. I decided to fudge it. "Oh, hi! You work around here?"
She gave me a strange look. "I'm from the nail shop," she gestured in the general direction of the place. "You don't remember me?"
Oops. Yes, now that she'd mentioned it... she's a manicurist and I've been to see her two or three times to get my nails done. Her shop is just a few doors down from my office, and I walk past it every single day!
Strike One.
Later in the evening, I bumped into someone in a bookstore. Again, it was she who greeted me. I decided to be honest -- I figured, after this afternoon's debacle, that would be the safest course to take -- and admitted I couldn't place her. She helpfully tried to jog my memory: "We met at Ee Lynn's place."
I heard "Elaine". And I know several Elaines, none of whom I'd visited recently. I continued smiling and making small talk, but all the while my brain was working frantically trying to determine which Elaine she could possibly be talking about.
It only clicked just as we were saying goodbye. Oh yes! So that's who she is!
Strike Two.
A few weeks ago, I was in a shopping mall, browsing among the stalls in the concourse area. I met this Indian lady. She looked terribly familiar and I was sure I knew her; I just wasn't sure how. (Is it just me, or is there some sort of pattern emerging here?)
We exchanged greetings but didn't chat. As I wandered away from the area, I kept trying to figure out who she was. I had her pegged as a likely relative of my friend Janelle, coz I'd been a bridesmaid at Janelle's wedding in July and, what with helping to decorate the church and all, had met lots of her relatives then -- not to mention met them again at her housewarming party two weeks later.
After fifteen minutes, it finally hit me: that lady was one of my lecturers. I'd taken two classes under her last semester. Last semester, which was, what? -- barely six months ago???
Strike Three.
It's official: I have the worst ever memory when it comes to remembering people.