When you grow older in the town you grew up in

Isn’t it fun running into people who know you from somewhere?

If you are growing older in the same town you grew up in, surely you have conversations like this almost everywhere you go. It can’t just be me, right? With few exceptions, Blast From the Past and I relive our youth, determine how we know each other and leave me wondering if I’ll ever run into someone on a good hair day.

“You look familiar. What’s your name?”

“Catherine…”

(blank stare – I try again)

“Or Katie.”

“What school did you go to?”

“Adams, Chamberlain, USF.”

“No, that’s not it. Where’d you work during school?”

“Let’s see: McDonald’s, Showtime Video, Chess King, Little Caesar’s, JC Penney, Video Show, Beyond, Ernie Haire Ford, Creative World, Skyline Chili, some retirement home, Mr. Dunderbak’s, Tampa Woman’s Health Center, and I was also a nanny for about a year.”

“That’s some resume. Where’ve you worked since college?”

“Here in Tampa? Hillsborough County School District.”

“That’s not it either, geez, they’d never let me work with kids. Ever a regular at any clubs?”

“Long time ago….El Goya, Masquerade, Traxx, Volley Club, DNA, 911, The Hub.”

“Man, I know you from somewhere. Ever been on TV?”

“When Kathy Fountain had her own show and umm, Studio 10?”

“No, I was thinking cable.”

“Perhaps you slept with one of my friends. That’s usually it.”

“Did we sleep together?”

“No.”

“Wait a minute. Ever been to Paradise Lakes?”

“Yes! That must be it.”

“Yeah, wow, you’ve changed. A lot.”

Awkward pause.

“Cute kids. They identical?”