Do I Know You?
Yesterday, I was leaving the office building that I have been working in for the last five months. I’ve seen a lot of people there that I haven’t ‘met’ but I run into quite regularly and so they are familiar.
As I was standing by the elevator bank on the 7th floor, I could see a guy through glass wall of the reception area who looked very familiar to me, but I couldn’t place why. So, I stared — until he turned and came out to join me at the elevators. Then I looked at the floor, offering a meager ‘hey’.
The elevator arrived and we both jumped in.
He turns to me and says “Did you take a training course in Chicago?” (We’re in Tampa)
Yes. I had. I worked with Curt on a team project for three days straight, over a year ago.
I am not a visual person. I recognize people as familiar, but I can’t place where or why I know people. I see people and I wonder if I know them as in have been introduced or if I just recognize them because I was at a similar event.
It’s really sad. I wish I could recognize people like that, but it’s not how I process data. My memory is not visual. I’m more likely to remember any conversation that we have had in detail, but less likely to remember your name or face. Well, more specifically, your face in association with your name. I probably remember hearing your name, but it isn’t in my memory associated with your face.
So, please never be offended if I don’t recognize you. I probably do, but have no idea why. I’m still wondering who that woman was I was sitting behind at Oliver’s recital the other day. She looked familiar and at least one time, she seemed to look at me like I was familiar to her. If I am actively not looking at you, it’s probably because I am embarrassed that I have no idea who you are.
I really should work on that.
