There’s a convenience store near my house that I visit maybe once every two or three weeks. It’s a bit further than the two closer to where I live, but it is open much later than the others. So generally speaking, I only go there when the other two are closed, or if it is on my way home.
But I’m still there regularly enough that I’m not a stranger.
Part of my hesitance to visit there is that the guy who is usually working there not only never recognises me, but we go through the same conversation loop.
I walk up to the counter, say hello, hand over my items and wait. It takes about 10 seconds but he stops, stares down over the counter and looks me up and down.
“WOOOOAAAAAH”
Sigh.
“How tall are you?”
We had been through this routine at least four times by last week, and I admit I was a bit tired at the time and couldn’t put up with it again.
“You ask me this every time I’m here. Don’t you remember?”
“You obviously don’t come here often enough.”
“There’s a reason for that.”
This isn’t really uncommon. Either people somehow manage to forget that person they found amazingly tall, or it’s convenient selective amnesia. The variations for those who do remember are:
- “Have you grown since I last saw you?’ [That was probably okay to ask when I was 12. Now, not so much]
- "I don’t remember you being that tall.” [Yes, you do. You said the same thing last time]
As I’ve said previously, I am usually pretty accommodating with the questions the first time I meet people, but no second chances.