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Recognition

A girl came into the office today. I recognized her as having come in last week, looking for her U-Pass. She recognized me, too. I could tell because she sighed with heavy frustration. I am not the most compassionate employee, and I figured she didn’t particularly want to deal with me yet again.

It was strange, though, because she acted like I should remember everything about her. I did recall her face, and I remembered her name once she told it to me, but it wasn’t all there. Should it have been? They don’t pay me enough to remember people. But she was acting sort of shocked and irritated that I had totally forgotten. Fortunately, her U-Pass was in; if it hadn’t been, I’d wager she would have thrown some form of shit-fit.

Funnily enough, after work I ran into a girl I haven’t seen in about 18 months. We had a class together, and we went out once. It didn’t go well. I saw her, she saw me; at first, I didn’t recognize her. She’s grown her hair out a bit, and her face had an unusual pallor. When I knew her, she was all smiles. I bet the weight of the world has crushed her spirit, too.

I don’t think she recognized me, either. For all the weight I’ve taken off in the last few months, I still am huskier than I was a year and a half ago. And my hair is long enough to be considered “shaggy.” I admit I need a haircut; I’m just too lazy to get one. Or to shave. And I’ve been wearing a baseball cap. I sort of look like Michael Moore’s illegitimate son, which is not really a look any person should strive for.

At any rate, we both did an amusing double-take at the exact same time. We were also both in a hurry and possibly embarrassed about our last, near-fatal encounter (i.e., our date). She nodded at me in acknowledgement, then looked down at the floor and headed toward the elevators. I did the same and left the building.

In summary, today wasn’t too bad.

Tags: baseball cap, Fall 2003 semester, illegitimate son, job, Michael Moore, old friend, recognition, U-Pass, work-study

Posted by Stan on November 10, 2003 8:53 PM  | Permalink | “I’m a Living Joke!” - Horror Stories from the Workplace | Digg It