She tells me so-and-so has the kids. I don't hear much of what she says. I was scanning my brain for any memory. Nothing. I admit defeat, "I'm sorry, I don't recognize you." She looks at me blankly, "I'm your neighbor." I stare at her, still confused. "Across the street." she adds. It clicks. She's my neighbor's daughter who lives with them. I've only seen her a few times. The rest of the conversation is awkward. I still don't know her name. I decided I need to sell my house and move.

I had interactions like that all the time when I worked in K12. Students would come up to me in stores, say hi and start having a conversation while I’m there trying to figure out who the random kid is. It was extra fun for me because I didn’t work with students directly, I did IT support for their teachers.

Situations like this are why I learned the art of speaking to someone without using their name and learned to speak in generalizations lol

I used to work in the in house float pool at UCLA Medical Center as a nurse. I worked NICU, PICU, peds floor, and pediatric patients in the CVICU. I don’t know how many times parents would spot me in the elevator or in a hallway and greet me by name, and I would have no clue who they were or who their child was or even what unit they knew me from. Awkward!

So the fact you have neighbors that are nice and want to talk to you makes you want to move? I legit do not understand. Every time one of the houses near us gets a new family I hope that they’re cool, maybe we can chat about stuff, watch each others homes. Can you explain? 🤷‍♂️

I don't know if this is normal or part of my neurodivergence, but I have a really hard time recognizing people out and about if I know them from somewhere specific. I once worked at a college years and years ago, and this guy I knew but couldn't place said hi and I'm like...uhhhh.... and he leans over and whispers "Steve from the liquor store." I just laughed because of course it was him. He had worked at the store by my house for years. But out of context, no idea. Happens to me all the time.

I had an interview in the summer before with a pannel of six teachers, 4 of which I worked with and could not remember 1 person’s name. It happens to the best of us.

“I may not remember your name, but I won’t remember your face, either.”

I still don’t know if it was my one and only aunt (who I grew up next door to) that I saw in the Starbucks that day as a teen. I couldn’t tell so I snuck to pick up my drink!

I once had an entire convo with someone I didn’t recognize but I faked it And then they asked “how’s your sister?” I’m an only child. I said FINE! Gotta go!