Memory Gap

The thing I hate about my brain is that if I don’t have a deep personal relationship with someone (in other words acquaintances that come and go at school or in the workplace, or people I haven’t told my life story to, or people who haven’t seen me drunk yet and vice versa) and I haven’t seen them in a long time, I either forget their name or face, and worse - sometimes both.

I’ve had numerous awkward moments wherein the person would call my name, grinning from ear to ear and start a conversation, and then the conversation would end and the person would be long gone before I remember their name. I would be left with a blank stare, which I hope the person wouldn’t have noticed. I would then rack my brain before I go to bed, trying to remember the person’s name, sometimes to no avail. Next I would feel so embarrassed that I hope we never see each other again or at least that the person forgot about that meeting and never mentioned it to anybody.

This afternoon, I had another one of those. I was on a jeepney, and a girl got on. I seldom pay attention to anybody when I’m commuting because I don’t want to be staring rudely at people I don’t know. Usually I just see them from my peripheral view. So the girl called my name, and when I looked at her, I immediately recognized her face but couldn’t remember her name. This girl was one of those I met in college through a friend. We really didn’t share anything personal (none that I remember) and I was surprised and ashamed that she knows (or at least remembers) more about me than I do her.

She commented on how I have gotten thinner (while I think she gained a few pounds). She even asked about whatever happened to my piercings, and I told her I had to lose them upon entry to the corporate world. Then she commented on how the campus fair was drawing nearer, and I agreed. She then started talking about my ex-bandmate, whose girlfriend had broken up with him, which I didn’t know! My goodness. At this point, I already remembered what her name was, to my relief. But mind you, the first few seconds (or was it minutes) of our conversation was pure panic in my head! My brain almost short circuited from trying to remember this girl’s name.

Then it was time for me to get off the jeepney. I told her that I’ll see her at the fair, but failed to call her by her name. Sorry, girl! But I do remember you now.