While I’ve lost count of just how many people have approached me with the assertion that they know me from somewhere, it has also occurred to me that they seem familiar as well, while not as often, but often enough.
Now this statement can vary quite a lot depending on the intent with which it was said. To this effect I present to the “Hey girl” phenomenon.
So one evening, I was standing alone at the bus stop, waiting for the bus (big surprise) when this dude comes by and enters the bus shelter.
I am standing under the lamp post, listening to my music, and I didn’t realize someone was approaching until he’d actually walked right behind me. Unfortunately, I had been singing aloud, and only when I saw him, I stopped and tossed a nonchalant look in his direction, and continued to hum quietly under my breath.
He’s a relatively cute-in-a-boyish-way, desi dude, and he’s standing in such a way that every time I look up the road to see if the bus is coming yet, I’m facing his direction. So in one of these instances, he smiles at me, and I see he’s asking me something.
So I remove my earbuds, “Sorry?”
“Have you been waiting long then?” he smiled.
“Oh, umm. I’d say about 7 minutes or so,” I ventured.
“Oh okay.” He smiled again. “I think I’ve seen you before.”
I sigh to myself, and smile politely at him. “Yeah, I’ve heard that pretty often.”
He comes closer, hands in pockets, rolling on the balls of his feet. I mentally roll my eyes.
“No, I am very sure I’ve seen you before. You have a face that is unforgettable.”
“Um,” I really don’t know what to say.
“You went to U of X right?”he asks. The bus stop is right at the university intersection.
“Yeaahh… I went to U of X..” I answer, thinking that I doubt his use of the verb is the same as my use. As in, I used to go to U of X.
His eyes light up. “Yeah! I knew it! I saw you today!” He points at me with a 'gotcha' kind of gesture.
“Eerrm. No, I wasn’t on campus today. I’m just waiting for my bus because I’m coming home from work.”
Dun dun dun.
Apparently, when I was 22 years old, I didn't want to grow older. I wished that I could be 22 forever, because that seemed like the coolest number for an age to be. Double 2. Not too young, not too old.
Now this statement can vary quite a lot depending on the intent with which it was said. To this effect I present to the “Hey girl” phenomenon.
So one evening, I was standing alone at the bus stop, waiting for the bus (big surprise) when this dude comes by and enters the bus shelter.
I am standing under the lamp post, listening to my music, and I didn’t realize someone was approaching until he’d actually walked right behind me. Unfortunately, I had been singing aloud, and only when I saw him, I stopped and tossed a nonchalant look in his direction, and continued to hum quietly under my breath.
He’s a relatively cute-in-a-boyish-way, desi dude, and he’s standing in such a way that every time I look up the road to see if the bus is coming yet, I’m facing his direction. So in one of these instances, he smiles at me, and I see he’s asking me something.
So I remove my earbuds, “Sorry?”
“Have you been waiting long then?” he smiled.
“Oh, umm. I’d say about 7 minutes or so,” I ventured.
“Oh okay.” He smiled again. “I think I’ve seen you before.”
I sigh to myself, and smile politely at him. “Yeah, I’ve heard that pretty often.”
He comes closer, hands in pockets, rolling on the balls of his feet. I mentally roll my eyes.
“No, I am very sure I’ve seen you before. You have a face that is unforgettable.”
“Um,” I really don’t know what to say.
“You went to U of X right?”he asks. The bus stop is right at the university intersection.
“Yeaahh… I went to U of X..” I answer, thinking that I doubt his use of the verb is the same as my use. As in, I used to go to U of X.
His eyes light up. “Yeah! I knew it! I saw you today!” He points at me with a 'gotcha' kind of gesture.
“Eerrm. No, I wasn’t on campus today. I’m just waiting for my bus because I’m coming home from work.”
Dun dun dun.
Apparently, when I was 22 years old, I didn't want to grow older. I wished that I could be 22 forever, because that seemed like the coolest number for an age to be. Double 2. Not too young, not too old.
As they say, be careful what you wish for. Years later, I still look like I'm 22, apparently. I am a child at heart, what can I say. It, ehm, reflects off the youthful glow in my face?
Example 2.
"Hey girl, I know you from somewhere" The dude remarks, while obviously checking me out.
Yeah. In your dreams. I ignore him.
"Yeah, I seen you in my dreams baby."
O_o Talk about cheesy lines. I continue to ignore.
"Hey, can I get your number?" He persists.
Example 2.
"Hey girl, I know you from somewhere" The dude remarks, while obviously checking me out.
Yeah. In your dreams. I ignore him.
"Yeah, I seen you in my dreams baby."
O_o Talk about cheesy lines. I continue to ignore.
"Hey, can I get your number?" He persists.
"In your dreams," I smile sweetly and walk away.
While still falling under the "I know you from somewhere" category, I highly doubt that the "Hey girl" Phenomenon explains the high occurrence of what I really mean. Since it certainly doesn't explain it, I can definitely put that aside as the exception that definitely does not prove the rule, and move on to the core of the issue.
While still falling under the "I know you from somewhere" category, I highly doubt that the "Hey girl" Phenomenon explains the high occurrence of what I really mean. Since it certainly doesn't explain it, I can definitely put that aside as the exception that definitely does not prove the rule, and move on to the core of the issue.
And gladly. There is something just more than baffling about being singled out by that weird dude who has managed to stick himself out his (pimped-up) car window while driving by, simultaneously blasting, and lip-syncing to, "You are my chammak challo" while dance-pointing at me. Seriously?
(Part 2 of an IQ Series that attempts to explore the mysteries behind certain personal experiences.)
(Part 2 of an IQ Series that attempts to explore the mysteries behind certain personal experiences.)
