Do I Know You?

Everyone has been in a situation in which they see a familiar looking face and ask the unaware stranger, "Do I know you?". Or has been addressed with that all too familiar question to which one usually looks around at whomever else is standing nearby, has that confused and bewildered expression before politely answering "No", or "I don't think so?", fairly sure you've never seen this strange person before yet racking your brain trying to rung through everywhere you've been and from where it i that you could have, possibly, might really know this person. I would never walk up to a slightly familiar looking person and ask if I knew them but I am frequently confronted with this question in the most random place.

I often see people who I don't actually know but seem all too familiar. These are people I encounter on my morning runs. Our alarm clocks are probably set at the same time, we share the same pre-dawn path and even if it's just a head nod or slight wave, we very well may be the first personal interaction of each others' day. I see the same people out in the early morning hours, before the rest of the world has woken up and the roads are still quiet. I love seeing the same people enjoying their routine, as I am mine, each of us starting our day with our morning ritual. We may say "G'morning" and "Hi" as we pass each other and even though I don't know their names, I feel like I know them.

I was in the grocery store (after a roughly 8 mile run with some hill repeats during the middle) when someone excitedly came up to, "How are you?!". I looked around wondering who this woman was talking to, trying to put together how I know her and how I'm going to respond if she asks too many questions because I have no clue who she is?! We exchange the usual nuances, "fine, how are you?". Then it clicks, she's the lady I see on the bike path on weekend mornings with another woman of similar age. I asked her how her walk was and from there she took over the convo going on about how her and her walking partner look forward to seeing me, try to predict what color shorts or shirt I will be running in that morning, and on and on. I'm flattered by her compliments! I'm also immediately embarrassed that I'm standing in front of the pastries looking at something I would probably never buy but nonetheless have been drawn to stare at for far too long and for who knows what reason (I probably earned a pastry after this morning's run!). Then I glance in her basket, wondering what it is she's buying, trying to find out as much as I can about this woman I don't know yet feel like we're good friends. I try to see if she's buying junk food or healthier food options. I don't know exactly what I'm looking for, or even why I care for that matter, yet I continue to snoop into her basket.

The conversation ends as people are trying to navigate their carts around us in the aisle. I am excited that I had such a great convo with this woman who I feel like I know so well, yet really don't. As I'm walking around the store, trying to get back on task, I search for her name which she just told me. Bummer! I was too focused on trying to identify where I recognized her from to remember her name! I may not remember her name but the next time I see her I will be super excited!