I’m always finding myself in some situation where I think that I recognise somebody’s face, and then realise that I don’t.
Sometimes, I actually do recognise the face, but don’t think that it is the person I am thinking it could be, because they are in a place where I don’t expect them to be.
Sometimes, I’m right, and know that I don’t know the person.
Sometimes, I’m right, and know that I know the person.
Sometimes, I’m wrong, and know that I don’t know the person.
And, yes, sometimes, I’m wrong, and know that I know the person, but don’t think it is them as they are in Sainsbury’s when usually I see them in the Co-op. (Other shops are available).
Once, my dentist’s receptionist recognised me in Sainsbury’s. “Hello Mr Aquatom” she announced merrily as she walked by (although she used my real name, but for privacy purposes my alter ego’s name will have to suffice here). I didn’t recognise her, and spent the next hour or so trying (and failing) to work out where I knew her from, and how she knew my name. It was actually during the night, when I woke up for some reason, when I remembered she was the receptionist.
Another time, I met a work colleague at the hospital. Instantly, I knew it was my work colleague… but a few months earlier, I didn’t know who she was at work, even though we worked together on the same team. Eventually, I remembered who she was, and vowed never to forget her again. Which probably helped when I met her at the hospital.
The other day, I was walking down a street when I saw a young lad walking towards me. His face was very familiar, and I was sure I knew him. He started to smile, so I started to smile back. He then shouted to someone behind me, and I realised that I didn’t know him at all. I walked passed him with a huge smile on my face, pretending that I had thought of something funny. I don’t think he realised what I had done…
Several years ago, I went to a motor bike racing circuit, to watch a few races, funnily enough. I went with a few friends, and we were walking around the stalls where they were selling all the manly tools and leathers and bike parts and things. The guy who was serving on this particular stall looked at me as though he recognised me – and I recognised him as well. He actually said that he knew me, but didn’t know where from. I said the same to him, but neither of us had been to each other’s home town, and the racing circuit is something I don’t do very often. Unfortunately, we never did find out how we knew each other; although we probably didn’t in this lifetime. That was a strange feeling, that one!
I’m now starting to recognise some of the doctors and nurses at the hospital, when I see them at the hospital. If I saw them in Sainsbury’s, I’d probably know that I knew them, but not know where from.
So, the reason for this post.
Another new word for my dictionary:
- Flacement
The recognition of a familiar face in unfamiliar surroundings.
The knowledge that you know that you don’t know the person that you think that you know, but you still think that you might know them from somewhere, but don’t.
The Mansionic Perspective 
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