October 10, 2012
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Small World
Last night, I took our daughter to visit a middle school in our district. She is going to apply to a specialty center there, though at this point she claims to be adamantly against going, even if she gets accepted. As I told her – we’ll cross that bridge if and when we get to it. But it was an open house to allow the 5th graders and parents to check it out and see what all the fuss is about.
So there we were, with many other families from around the area, wandering in and out of classrooms staffed with enthusiastic teachers and smart, but horribly awkward, middle school students showing off their classrooms. As we shoved in to a science lab to watch an experiment that promised to include “blowing stuff up,” I spotted a familiar face – the mom of another girl on our daughter’s soccer team. And next to her….who is that? I know that woman. Why do I know her?
She is the woman who interviewed me for the job I applied for last year — and did not get.
As the kids say, “AWKWAAAAARD!”
I am cursed with what a report on 60 Minutes referred to as “super recognizer” skills. I never forget a face and I almost always remember the connection that makes the face familiar. This leads to lots of situations where I remember someone and they do not remember me. Add to that the fact that she was the only person to interview me in 10 years, but she has likely interviewed many folks over that same time period…..and I’m pretty sure she had no clue who I was.
Weird. Small world.
Oh, and here’s another story about being a super recognizer. About 2 years ago, I was in line at Whole Foods one morning, patiently waiting for my turn to check out. The woman in front of me was having a conversation with the cashier about where else she goes grocery shopping and commenting on the quality of food at the various local stores. I couldn’t help but overhear the conversation and perhaps even chimed in a bit. The woman was unique looking, in that she had a gorgeous head of tightly curled black hair.
That same afternoon, I was at the public library with my kids, and there she was with hers. We crossed paths and smiled. I assumed it was a mutual recognition of our Whole Foods encounter, but I think she was really just being polite.
The very next day, I was at the mall in “Claire’s,” the store where little girls eyes pop out of their heads because of all the cheap, shiny accessories. I was there alone, picking up a birthday gift for one of our daughter’s friends. Who walks into the store, but Curly Hair Lady? She walked up to the counter and started asking for help in choosing accessories for her daughter’s upcoming stint as a flower girl. I was the only other person in the store, and she ended up asking me to help her decide between two headbands.
OK, now I have to say something. And so I did.
“You know, you were in line ahead of me at Whole Foods yesterday, and then I saw you at the library, too! And now we’re both here!”
As soon as I said it, I thought — OMG, I sound like a crazy stalker. She paused for a second, and then just kind of laughed and made a comment about how we all seem to know each other in the Bubble. We chatted a bit about our kids and what school they go to (different ones) and I eventually left the store.
Next, I went into the Gap. There she was, looking for tights for the flower girl.
“So, Turningreen,” she said, “Where are we going tomorrow?”
Ah, we had a good laugh. And then I didn’t see her again for a very long time. But she was there last night, along with me and my interview lady.
You’ll be happy to know that I didn’t approach her to remind her of all my past stalking. I felt like that would be weird, no?
Comments (6)
Stalker! Ha. I didn’t know “super recognizer” was a thing, but I do this as well. I have an extremely accurate memory of people, faces, birthdays, phone #s. Sometimes it is very awkward. I’m ashamed to admit this, but sometimes I have PRETENDED to not remember someone’s name or birthday (or kids’ names or kids’ ages) because they don’t remember mine and I feel kind of awkward or desperate that I remember everything about them.
Anyway, haven’t I seen you around here before??
@DrTiff – Oh yeah, I do that, too. And I let people retell be long, boring stories, too. FYI, the opposite of super recognizer is someone who suffers from facial blindness. For real.
I have had a number of failed interviews in the last few years. Even when they don’t hire me, I send them connection invites on LinkedIn. They always accept. You never know when someone who thought you weren’t quite right for some job might connect you with another one.
@transvestite_rabbit – You know, I thought about doing that after the interview, for that very reason. But I didn’t. Just sent the thank you note. Next time.
I must be almost polar opposite to you. Sometimes people look familiar but I don’t know who they are. Hey, as long as you were friendly I probably wouldn’t feel like you were stalking but more like I had an unknown friend. I’m terribly nervous in stores if I’m by myself and I’m always grateful if someone just randomly has a kind conversation with me.
@FalconBridge – We are pretty opposite — I am very comfortable alone in a store and get anxious when someone (especially the workers) talk to me!