Name Recognition

It may not sound extraordinary. You may wonder why I even think to mention it. But I thought this remarkable. As I was walking to work this morning, I heard my name being called. I thought perhaps I would see a friend when I turned my head. Instead, there was a woman who looked familiar but I was having difficulty placing her. And then I saw her Venti Iced Coffee in her hand and I knew. She worked at the Starbucks I visited every morning at 8am. Now yes, once again I mention Starbucks. And no, I don't live there. But this woman takes hundreds of orders from strangers every single day, and yet somehow she remembers my name, out of context, on the street. Some say that the small town intimacy of knowing your butcher and milk-man have died, replaced by chains such as Walmart and Starbucks. While I agree that mom and pop stores have become memories of the past (and I miss them), people are still people and a name is still the key to connecting on a human level. This woman who sees me every morning and takes my order from behind the counter in her green apron, knows me not just as the woman who drinks Grande Americano's - she knows my name. I wave and smile, embarrassed that I don't remember hers. But I will find out so I can properly say hello back next time we meet face to face at the counter or passing in the street. Remembering a name is a powerful thing. She made my day.