Failing to Hide

[ladysprite]

I have a flaw in my self-perception that I need to correct.

Okay, I'll be honest; I have several flaws in my self-perception that I probably ought to correct. But there's one in particular that I've been banging into more and more often lately, and I'm slowly being forced to accept that my concept of myself doesn't quite mesh with reality.

I have a very strong conviction that I am utterly forgettable. I just assume that people who haven't actively interacted with me extensively will almost certainly and completely fail to remember me at all. In some ways this makes life a lot easier - it's easy for me to justify not trying to remember other people, since I can rest assured that they won't bother remembering me. In other ways, it makes life harder - more than once I've embarrassed myself reintroducing myself to people based on the idea that there's no way they'll recall who I am.

Slowly but surely, though, reality is chipping away at this idea. I think the final clod of dirt was thrown onto the coffin of this illusion this afternoon at work. Halfway through an appointment today, a client paused to ask me if I remembered them, elucidating that through some strange set of links, our ex-SO's were involved with each other, and also that we had met at a party once.

In 1994.

I have no earthly way to comprehend how this person can remember me at this point, but they clearly did, and it took a moment of fumbling on my part before I could figure out quite how to respond.

Clearly, I'm not quite as forgettable as I'd like to imagine I am.

Comments

[pocketnaomi.livejournal.com]

Nobody with your hair could possibly be forgettable, even if your personality were. And it isn't. :)

[pixel.livejournal.com]

I have nearly the same flaw. Plus I have a horrific memory for names and contexts. So a face ma look familiar but I'll have no idea who they are or where I know them from.

I get people very regularly greeting me and clearly remembering me after a brief meeting a ways back. And I generally have no clue where I met them or who they are. It is kinda frustrating.

[jadasc.livejournal.com]

Halfway through an appointment today, a client paused to ask me if I remembered them, elucidating that through some strange set of links, our ex-SO's were involved with each other, and also that we had met at a party once.

In 1994.

Oh, that's lovely.

[dagibbs.livejournal.com]

No, Becky dear, you are anything but forgettable.

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

I will admit that the second time I met you I didn't recognize you.

The first time I met you, you were at work wearing a standard vet uniform. (I was there to support the pet owner, so I wasn't paying that much attention). If I was at the vet's office the second time, I probably would have recognized you, but the second time was at Arisia, where it took me several moments to make the connection (then again, at Arisia, I'm usually running around and rather distracted)

"our ex-SO's were involved with each other, and also that we had met at a party once."

At least you hadn't slept with the person and forgot them. :)

A friend once took a support call and during the conversation realized that she had met the customer the night before at a party and had shared a joint.

[tafkad.livejournal.com]

We try hypnosis . . . we try therapy . . .

Naaaah. I remember that after Intercon 9.5, I was looking forward to the next Arisia because I knew you'd be there. I also remember you being surprised at Arisia when I told you that you were one of the reasons I was going.

[warinbear.livejournal.com]

<insert comment about your birthday and opinion thereon here>

[sebastian-tombs.livejournal.com]

sorry, but while you may not be as loud as certain other vets I know, you still are indeed quite memorable. In a good way, I mean!

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

Because I used to be much heavier and my hair constantly changes people I recognize very often do not recognize me. Just remember that even if someone doesn't recognize you that doesn't make you forgettable.. it just makes that person bad with faces.

[baron-saturday.livejournal.com]

I spent the better part of three Intercons trying to get introduced to you. When jducoeur finally did the honors, he was shocked that we didn't already know each other well. I have not forgotten you since.

[johnprester.livejournal.com]

Um...who are you, again?

[syrenssong.livejournal.com]

I very much have the same flaw.