Have you ever seen someone completely out of context, recognized their face, but it took some time to come up with the venue where you typically interact with them?
Maybe you know a policeman who you always see in uniform. Then you run into him at your son’s baseball game. The face looks so familiar. “How do I know this person?” you ask yourself until it finally clicks.
Or possibly you are at your favorite Portuguese restaurant and a familiar-looking woman you positively should know is seated three tables away, only you can’t recall her name. Maybe she is an old girlfriend (you’ve had so many), maybe you worked together, or went to the same high school. Also escaping you is whether you know her well enough that you are compelled to say hello. Through the appetizer, salad, and main course you glance so many times she is wondering if she should call the police or if you are going to buy her dinner. Finally during desert, it comes to you that she’s the teller at the bank, leaving you nothing to worry about except her surly husband whose eyes are riveted on you.
All of that leads me to something that happened recently. For many years, I was an early morning gymrat. I love going to the gym, but hate much of the meat-market style interaction that goes on there. I hate waiting for the lat press while Joey finishes texting. I loathe the flirting, that guy doing curls in the mirror hoping someone is watching, the girl who is wearing less fabric than my sock, and the people who sweat like they are being interrogated but don’t feel the need to wipe down a seat. So I started going to the gym at 5 am. At 5 am, the gym is full of people who are serious about working out. I made many friends over the years and joined a group of people who ran a few days a week as well.
One evening while at the store with my lovely wife, I saw a lady I knew I should know. While her husband didn’t look the least bit familiar, her face did. Across several aisles, I stared her down. I wracked my brain to come up with my association with this woman, but could not. Finally our paths met, she smiled and said, “Hello Mark.” Upon hearing her voice, I knew immediately she was part of the running group from the gym.
I replied just like anyone would in the situation, “Hello Patty, I was having trouble placing you for a minute. I didn’t recognize you with clothes on.”
Those words hung there for a second while everyone besides me tried to make sense of them. Me? Oh, I didn’t really know what I’d said, I was just relieved to have the mystery solved. I stood there with a contented smile on my face until I noticed the shock on their faces. I did a mental recount of my statement and went directly to panic mode.
I’ll have that back, please!
Nope, no taking it back. I could only explain that I meant I was used to seeing her in very appropriate work-out clothes.
Yes, I’m still married and no, her husband and I did not tussle! (I could have taken him, though – with all of my bicep curls into the mirror.)
A Generous Helping 
Good job Buddy!! Lol. Thanks for the early morning laugh!!!!!! 😃😃
Always glad to give a smile! And I’m always saying stupid things, too.
*LOL* Biggest grin! I was wondering where this post was going! Excellent morning starter! Cher xo
I’m so glad you liked it – I love to write down rabbit holes.
*biggest grin* Cher xo
So true and funny! And I feel the same way about gyms too which is why I exercise at home! Blessings,
I like the group atmosphere at the gym, just not most of the people during the daytime hours,
Love this post. I can really relate, Mark! I just finished testing that showed that I have short-term memory loss. I can now explain why things like that happen to me. Guess who posted this note!!
Happens to me all the time!
Funny…and you’re that guy needing someone to watch! This was interesting for another reason to me: I’ve toyed with the story idea of recognizing someone you ought not to know! Love your posts, Mark.
I only catch glimpses of myself in the mirror. LOL. Can’t wait to read your story, Mike. I like twists and turns.
Well I was only toying with it in my mind. But now that I’ve informed the storyteller, let me know what YOU do with it!
this is so, so incredibly funny, and i am the same as far as my approach to the gym.
I really like working out alone, but like to be in a group, if that makes,sense. I guess I like to know others are doing it too.
Glad you got a laugh, it took my wife a little while to laugh over that one.
i understand that first sentence in your reply, completely. i am exactly the same. like to have others around me, sweating along with me, but not involved in the gossip, outfit comparisons and grunting. as for your wife, it is very understandable that it took your wife a bit longer to see the humor in your blurt ) great post, mark.
After saying the same thing several times, I have learned to say, “I didn’t recognize you in street clothes.” Not as much fun, but a lot safer.
Haha – that’s good. I will remember that. I have learned to keep my mouth shut like an armadillo rolling up into a ball – it’s my only defense against my own stupidity sometimes.
People I knew as a nurse would frequently say that when they saw me out of uniform away from the hospital. There was always this look of recognition, the comment, then the awkward silence. 🙂
That’s awesome! I don’t know any nurses, but if I ever do, I’m going to use that one.
I love this post, Mark. Thanks!
Thank you, Ann. Glad you stopped by for some sweet tea!
This was my first visit to your blog and this is the story I landed on! Hysterically funny. I am so glad you found my blog so I could find yours!! Thank you for the early morning smiles!! 🙂
Excellent. I stumbled on some good poetry on yours this morning. I’m glad you got a laugh here.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
What a mistaka to maka XD
It’s come back up a time or two.
You’ll never be allowed to forget it 🙂
Too funny; almost like wanting to write hahaha to a friend and it comes out Hanna when their names starts with P or B. The new techie stuff will trip you up all the time; I see we do the same to ourselves as well. W
The question is – is it an improvement? Thanks for coming by!
Hi Mark! You had me almost spurting coffee out of my nose. I imagined you standing there with a big grin on your face while your wife, the woman and her husband look at you as if you had two heads. That’s hilarious! Thanks for the laugh and for following my blog. I hope my stories entertain you as much as yours amused me. Have a great day! 😀
I’m glad you liked it. Like many things, it wasn’t funny at the time – but it it looking back!
Hi Mark, so nice you stopped by my blog! Thanks for the support! You are really funny. Love your sense of humor! Do you like Portuguese food? Let me know when you want to do a guest blog on PiA?
Thank you Janice. I like all food, that is why I run a lot. What type of post do you think would be good? About writing? Funny. Or a story related to my work? I’d love to do it.
Very cute post! Love it! Hugs Mark 🙂
So glad you stopped by today, Tazein.
So funny-good as almost always when not serious-serious! I,on the other hand, have found no defense for “my stupidity” …
This one totally happened. It was very uncomfortable.