It happened again this morning. I’m walking along the highway and a woman walking towards me smiles and says “hello, John.” And I didn’t have a clue as to who she was. She was older and kind of matronly so it wasn’t a random bargirl I may have met some drunken night. I just smiled back and nodded, then kept on walking.

Something similar happened the other night as I left Cheap Charlies. A woman was sitting with a young child on the front stoop of an abandoned building. I glanced her way and she too greeted me by name. Again, I had no clue who she might be. I guess I’m going to need to start stopping and asking “who the fuck are you and how in the hell do you know my name?” Eh, but more politely than that of course.

I guess it is one of the things that comes with small town living. A couple of trike drivers know me by name (by virtue of being involved with Buddy’s rescue last year) but several others will call out “Alta Vista?” (my subdivision) when I walk past. I only take a trike maybe once a week so it’s not like I’m a regular customer for any of them. I took one last night because it was raining and although I didn’t recognize the driver at all, he knew how to get to my house without me giving directions. That’s a little scary!

On balance though, I kinda like being recognized as I make my way about town or when I frequent my usual haunts and venues. Hell, even places I rarely visit seem to remember me by name. I suppose it sort of makes me feel like I’m a part of the community or something like that. And maybe a little less lonely.

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you got
Taking a break from all your worries
It sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to be where you can see
The troubles are all the same

You want to be where everybody knows your name
You want to go where people know
The people are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name