A Familiar Face

At the store today, one of the clerks (a slender and attractive 30-something woman) looked at me and said, "You look really familiar." Immediately, the other clerk (a much younger woman) said, "Yeah, to me too!" However, neither of them looked familiar to me. It didn't phase me though, because for some reason, I hear the phrase "you look familiar" a lot. I must have one of those faces.

Anyway, I smiled and I told them "I get that a lot." Clerk #2 nodded and said, "Oh, you must have one of those faces." But Clerk #1 continued to look at me while Clerk #2 rang up my purchase. Then she said, "Did you go to M___ High School?" Well, that was unexpected.

I replied that yes, indeed I did... did you? And yes, we both graduated the same year. I asked her name and told her mine. Her name sounded vaguely familiar, and she said mine was familiar as well. (Give me a break.... there were approximately 1000 students in my graduating class, and YES, it's been a long time!)

But nothing about her face was familiar. I suppose she must look quite a bit different now than she did in high school. But then so do I! I can't believe she recognized me (or at least my face) since we hadn't been friends back then. (Yes, I do remember my friends!)

I asked her if she was going to be attending our 20 year reunion (YIKES!) in October, and she said yes. (So am I, somewhat reluctantly... and Jay even more so.) I sort of felt bad that I hadn't recognized her.

But as I walked to my car I felt even worse when I thought about how 20 years after high school she was working as a clerk at Payless Shoes. Then again, maybe she was feeling sorry for me.... suburban mom, more than several pounds heavier, and three kids to show for it.

I hope she has her dream job. I know I have mine.