I consider myself pretty good at remembering people. I always say that I never forget a face (names I admit are iffy), but in general, if I have met you once, I will recognize you in the future.
However, people ALWAYS forget who I am. My WHOLE life.
I have gotten so used to this reality in fact that I have perfected the script at making the uncomfortable meeting where only one party remembers the other less awkward.
For example, this just happened to me last week:
(son gets panicked look on their face, this is where I start to think, really, how many Sheena’s do you know?)
That same day (I was in my old High school hometown of Dallas) A guy with his baby daughter is sitting at the same table as me during the shul kiddush. He had been in the grade below me in High school for the 2 years I was there, we had traveled on the same bus together for 2 weeks on March of the Living. This is another trick I’ve learned, I never assume anyone remembers me. So I smiled at him catching his eye to prompt any recognition and say “Good Shabbas”, he smiles, politely nods and looks away. Now it’s not awkward, if he remembered me but didn’t want to talk, all good, if he didn’t remember me, all good too-he doesn’t even know to feel guilty about it, no harm no foul, and no awkward, “OOOOH yeah! (fake, embarrassed smile) How are you??”
And to the Dad of the guy I used to go out with, yes I was that girl who hung out at your house that entire summer 10 years ago, when I smile and say Hi at the shul lunch buffet line, I’m ok with your speeding off in the opposite direction; though I’m still not sure if you heard me or not.
So reader, if I see you at the Israel Day parade, or waiting in line for coffee, or perhaps at a wedding or some shul, just remember, I’ve got your back. I know I’ve moved a lot so I may have only been in your life a few short days, months or years. I don’t blame you for not returning my smile of recognition.
I promise I won’t come rushing over to you and say, “Don’t you remember me!? We were in the same school from grades 2-4! I haven’t seen you in over 20 years!” (though I could have done this a few times) Because I assume you have forgotten my existence and I certainly don’t want to make you uncomfortable, nor make myself feel even more depressed at my insignificance.
By the way, Facebook has not solved this problem either. I have “friends” from college on my Facebook that I’ll see out and about in Manhattan and I will do my signature recognition smile and eye contact with the same results (i.e none).
Only ONCE in my life has someone come to me and said “You probably don’t remember me but…” to which I nearly started jumping for joy, “YES! I DO! I spent a shabbas in your dorm when we were in seminary in Israel. Hi! How are you!?” Of course she was surprised at my detailed memory which got me thinking, are there others like me whom most people never remember? So, I googled it!
Search: no one ever remembers me
I got the following Q&A forum: http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1411322-To-Wonder-Why-No-one-Ever-Recognises-or-Remembers-Me
My favorite response: “I bet you’d make a fab spy - that’s what they look for apparently. Nice forgettable face. See if MI5 have any vacancies.”
My alcoholism supersedes my Judaism on St. Patrick’s Day
Via someecards
[video]
“
This is the thing: When you hit 28 or 30, everything begins to divide. You can see very clearly two kinds of people. On one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find … themselves and their dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. Then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. … they mean to develop intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than when they graduated.
Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.
Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”
Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe … life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path.
” —(via Diana)
This is great.
(via megburns)
I don’t often get inspirational on y’all, but this really nails it.
(via haygirlhay)(Source: meredithbklyn, via haygirlhay)
(via the-absolute-funniest-posts)
![thedailywhat:
OMG! Adorbz of the Day: For the past four-and-a-half months, Arthur has been helping his freelance writer mum Emily recreate scenes from famous movies, with predictably adorable results
Above: Arthur recreates Rambo: First Blood and The Godfather.
[b3ta.]
Ha Ha, this is amazing…I would so do something like this. Seems to be a new trend in stay at home motherhood, see: Mila’s Daydreams hey, why not, it seems like dressing your offspring up is one of the few perks, right.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_luctongi8Y1qzpwi0o1_500.jpg)
OMG! Adorbz of the Day: For the past four-and-a-half months, Arthur has been helping his freelance writer mum Emily recreate scenes from famous movies, with predictably adorable results
Above: Arthur recreates Rambo: First Blood and The Godfather.
[b3ta.]
[video]
the article that accompanied this photo states, “He also held some flowers in one hand - perhaps a gift for his wife.”
sorry to break it to you, but those are definitely not flowers.
it’s a lulav, which is used on the jewish holiday of sukkot (falls on oct 12-19 this year). they must have been coming from or going to a sukkah.
When a beautiful woman is checking herself out in the public bathroom mirror to make sure she is still pretty
And you are standing there, waiting to wash your hands like:
He He He, every time, especially in airports…hey, I just woke up lady! Where did you come from?!
(via juliasegal)
I was laid off 6 months ago. Since then I have made a full time job of aggressively seeking a job. I’ve done some freelance work but I am ready for a full time position. My efforts alone have not been enough. Here’s where you come in:
It’s simple, really. I am offering $1,004 (I like the…
I worked with Liz and highly recommend her, so let’s get on this people! Thanks!
Darn it…um, happy Labor Day Weekend everyone!
I’ll see your family decal, and raise you…
A-mazing
