Story 4 - I have no social skills

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Sometimes I'm not so good in social situations. I know it's hard to believe that a guy as witty and charming as I am can feel awkward in some settings but it's true.

Everybody is familiar with "The Nod." The Nod is that little head nod people give as they pass a familiar person on the street. You know the person, but not well enough to actually mutter a hello. The nod sometimes can be upgraded to the "Nod and Smile." It's friendly, it's silent, and best of all you don't have to actually engage in conversation with a person you don't know very well.

Recently I was in The Cellar (a basement pizza place on campus) waiting for a strawberry smoothie. I was busy writing or reading a newspaper or looking sexy and was not really paying any attention. The smoothie is announced and I walk up to the counter. On my way I see a girl with whom I shared a class last semester. Normally I would play ignorant and not say anything, but I knew her. We conversed. She's from the Chicago area, too.

I had no reason to remember her name (other than common courtesy). She is just another classmate.

I walk closer and she is standing right next to my strawberry smoothie. She sees me and that really awkward unintentional eye contact happens.

She got the "Nod and Smile." She returned the favor. I don't think she knew my name either.

I grabbed my smoothie and walked out. Then I began to reflect on this incident. Two questions came to mind.

1) How did I forget her name? This quickly passed. I forget names of people all the time.
2) Why does it matter that I forgot her name? I couldn't answer this one.

Apparently, when I forget somebody's name I lose all ability to simply say "hello." I am not sure what was going through my head at the time, but I guess I figured the conversation would go like this:

"Hey"
"Hi… YOU FORGOT MY NAME, DIDN'T YOU?!"
"Ahhhhh!" ::breaks down in tears::

Yeah, I don't know either. Maybe this is why I don't have friends. I can't even say hello to people.