My Anonymous Friend

Several times a week I'm given the opportunity to go commute-shopping--that familiar role for the dad with the long drive to work whose wife is home with a slew of kids. So I get to stop at the grocer's for the essentials. My grocery list is usually: milk, chocolate milk, bread, cat food, "and something for dessert."

Last night was no exception--I stopped at Publix, and after I had browsed the outer aisle of the store for whole foods like eggs, milk, and fruit, I went to the registers where I went eye to eye with a very familiar face. Upon seeing him, my face must have changed from the listless, internal face of a solo shopper to one of openness and recognition. I started to open my mouth, to walk up behind him in the line, when he turned his back on me.

This made me pause. I knew this guy. He was a friend. But where did I know him from? It's been a long time, sure, but it's great to see him. Who is he? I took his turning as a sign that he either did not recognize me, or assumed I did not recognize him, so I trudged down to the last open checkout lane and pondered my problem. Should I just go back down there, extend my hand and say, "Hey, how've you been?" Maybe his face would light up, and we'd get to talking, and I'd instantly remember him as someone who once went to our church... or maybe he was one of the many co-workers I've seen come and go over the years.

Then the conveyor belt began to move, and I was stuck with my cashier. She rang me up, but I kept my eye out for my friend, watching for him to pass me by. I was done first, and as I walked to my car I wracked my brain for the answer... I realized suddenly that I didn't actually know him, but only recognized him from some place. He works somewhere around here, I realized. He's a video store clerk, or a mechanic, or something.

So I drove home, glad I had kept my mouth shut instead of forcing myself on this poor man. Then it came to me--he's one of the grocery baggers at the Kroger around the corner from my house! But what was he doing at Publix? Is that allowed? I think I have a scandal on my hands...

Comments

[karen]

So we went to Ruth's Chris for my B-day this year. There was this guy working there that I *knew* I knew from somewhere. It was killing me because there are only so many places that I'd know someone from (I've only lived here a few years, after all). I couldn't figure it out until ... finally ... I heard him speak! His voice ... I knew it from the CFA drive-thru on Peachtree at Collier (you know the one). He used to give me my chicken minis in the morning on my way to work. hee hee. I talked to him that night, and he said he remembered me ... but maybe he was just being polite.