The Name Game

Before you all start singing banana fanna bo banna that is not what I am talking about. For me the name game seems to happen almost weekly. I am talking about when someone approaches you and calls you by name with confidence. They know you, they know who your family is, they know where you are from and where you currently reside. They know where they know you from and probably have at the very least a hand full of stories about you.

You on the other hand have no idea who they are. Actually chances are (if you are like me) the only idea you really have is that you recognize them from somewhere and know them enough that you SHOULD know their name, but that is about it. You know you know them well enough that you CAN'T ask them their name. All you can do is stand there and hope that the bring up something familiar that will connect the dots for you.

Really the best thing you can do is just ask. Just ask them outright from the beginning. You have to do it at the very beginning of the conversation or not at all. You can't carry on the conversation and then ask at the middle or end who they are. My best attempt at tactfulness seems to leave me carrying on as if I know while I wonder throughout the conversation and still wondering at the end. Anyways, if I haven't seen you in a while and you come speak to me try to work your name in somehow to rescue me and don't be offended if I forgot, half the time I can't remember my own name... anyways, how is that for the first post of 2007?

Whatever,

Sam...

D'I mean, Dan