Doppel-Craig'er

I have always taken the time to notice people. Being brutally shy growing up was one excuse to watch folks, to see how they act, what makes them tick and in the case of girls, how cute they were!
Over the years I have evolved out of any real shyness, but I still do pay attention. Hopefully to everything, so that I can enjoy each moment for what it is.
In particular however, I have noticed that it is a rare thing these days for people to remember you.
So Nila and I were particularly surprised the other day when we were walking past a small park in Yaletown and saw a lovely couple waving at us! It took us just a moment, but then we remembered meeting them just a few days previously in a new fashion boutique - Oze - that they have opened up in Yaletown. We spoke with the lady for a few moments about their move from Paris to Vancouver and of course, with our current infatutation with Paris could not figure out why anybody would do that . . .
In any event, I'd just like to point out that this 'remembrance' happens so infrequently that I can count on one hand the number of times it has happened since moving to the west coast, where everyone is so *ahem* friendly.
I may not recognize everyone I meet, but I wave and smile at more people than recognize me back, by about 50 to 1 I reckon.

Which brings me to my next point, and a recent embarassment.

So, I'm walking down the street with Nila, just outside our apartment building, when I look up and see . . . Craig, purveyor of fine videos at The Screening Room on Seymour Street.
I say to Nila, 'Hey, it's Craig!' and get ready for the big hello. And, seeing him on the street instead of behind his desk is obviously a special occasion, so this isn't going to be any regular hello.
NO, I'm going for the big hello. So, I wind up, flap my left arm around and say 'HEYYYY!'
Then he gets closer . . .
He sort of says hello . . .
When he's 2 feet away, my eyes widen a bit . . .
He walks past.

That wasn't Craig.

In the old days I would have felt REALLY sheepish, and turned red and such.
I got over it pretty quickly and then thought about how much that guy really looked like Craig!!

Which brings me to my last point, in all of this.
During my life, I have been 'recognized' as someone else many times. Many, many times.
At least 3 times, people have insisted that I am someone else and the one time, regardless of all my truthful explanations, did not convince the person that I was not who they thought I was.
Ever happen to you??

My advice: Pay attention, folks.
I'll do the same, although I may wave at you and smile anyway, which is still not quite a crime last I've heard.