Do I know you?

One of the hardest things about moving back to my hometown after being gone for 20 years is that I have lost my knowledge of who is who. I spend a lot of time asking my sister or my mother “who is that?” I see a lot of people that I think I know, or look familiar but I cannot place them or put a name with the face. 


The other day I was in Pendleton with my sister and niece at the Ooh La La salon, they were getting their hair done. It is owned and operated by a gal who grew up in Ione as well. Anyway as my sister and niece were finishing up, there were two gals sitting on the couch, waiting for their appointment. I glanced over and thought one of them looked familiar—this happens to me a lot.


My sister and niece were in the back of the salon so I couldn’t ask if they knew the person I think I recognize. The one I was curious about got up and sat in the chair to have her hair done and started discussing styles and such with the hairdresser. At this point I am standing by the door, basically staring at the gal in the chair. I am watching her with the following dialog in my head:


“She looks a lot like (gal from Heppner who graduated the same year as me).
It’s been 20 years, this gal doesn’t look as old as me.”
“Boy she sure talks like her and has her face. Maybe it’s just a fluke that she looks like this gal.”
“Should I ask her if she is (person’s name)? How stupid would I look if I asked and she wasn’t her.”
“I’m just standing here staring at her, she probably thinks I’m crazy. I should not be just staring at her like this.”


It then turned and looked out the window so I would be a little less crazy.


Thankfully my sister came back. She says to me, as if she could read my mind, “do you recognize the gal in the chair? That’s (gal I was thinking of’s) younger sister.”


“Oh!” I said. “I was standing her staring at her, thinking it looked like (gal from Heppner) but just figured it couldn’t be. Glad to know I’m not crazy. She sure looks a lot like (older sister).”


I didn’t talk to the gal. Not sure she or her older sister would necessarily remember me. But if you find yourself being watched by someone from across the room, it could be me, wondering if I know you.