Fuck that, I can say it back to them and not know in the next second. I’m somehow great at it.

I used to go out for a smoke break at work. There was another guy from a different part of the company that did the same. I didn’t know him and he didn’t know me. We kibitzed, made small talk, told jokes, discussed current affairs, laughed for over ten years. I left the company and never did know his name, and he mine I guess. On a separate note, I quit smoking after I left the company. Way easier to quit when your not dealing with the daily shitpile that is corporate life.

I’ve known people for YEARS and I don’t know their first names.

My next door neighbor and I have spoken several times since she moved in in 2020. About kids, and the fence we had rebuilt between us, about whether he roof had been replaced, gossiping about neighbors, about my tree which looks like it might fall over, about the landscapers--typical stuff, and not just “Hello.” I wrote down her name as soon as I got home and stuck it on the fridge, because I know myself.

She’s been calling me “neighbor” for about a year now when we see each other outside, pretty sure she forgot my name. I’m wondering if she’ll ever ask.

The thing is, we exchanged phone numbers, so she should be able to find my name. But, she’s pretty old, even older than me, and maybe she doesn’t remember or just doesn’t care to look. I haven’t had any reason to text her recently.

Anyway, one of us will probably die before she asks my name. That’s a very different type of statement when you’re 60+ versus when you’re 30 or so. It’s just a fact, not a judgment of any sort.

Hey, let me introduce you, this is muffled noise

It’s not forgetting; I just don’t care to learn the names of people I’ll probably never talk to again.

I can remember a lot of information, but ask me to remember someone’s name I just met and it’s gone. I can even remember a face, their scent and voice… but names bounce off my brain like it’s bullet proof. I have to meet someone dozens of times (and even keep notes) to ensure it inevitably sticks. 🫣

Pffft. Try instantly

“Hey, I just met you. And pls don’t hate me. But I can’t remember. Was your name Gene?”

“It’s Arthur, that’s fine.”

“Thank you. Name’s Pete. This here is Hunter. Meet my mate…(music fades out awkwardly)”

Once I mostly succeeded at one office job, because I took a paper and drawn a little map with who is sitting where. The process of writing down the name on the map made it click. This process doesn’t work in many different circumstances unfortunately.

That’s because I was busy rehearsing ”nice to meet you” in my mind over and over again while they said their name.

It’s not like I use people’s names anyway. Everyone is “hey, dude.”

And here I am still knowing the full names of my 11 classmates from 4th grade 🤔

it takes you that long? who are you? the memory lady?

I’ve moved from “I don’t remember names” to “I remember actions”