What Happens When You Run Into Someone You Know

Ironic that I'm putting together a post about going out and running into people during a time when we're all spending the majority of our time indoors.

Living in a city as chaotic as New York, you can go weeks, months, and even years before you "happen" to run into someone you know around the corner or in your favorite deli. In my year here, it just hasn't been all that common. It's not that I don't know people in the city; through some mutual friend or experience, there's a decent number of people here. So it's always a fun experience when you do run into someone you know. I've noticed there's a few very distinct feelings and interactions - not to say that there are all.

  1. The "Look at How Well I'm Doing" Moment

    Okay, so that title gives off a very negative connotation. In reality, it's not all that bad. It's a form of catching up, but I see it as a feeling of pride. These conversations usually surface if it's been a while since the two people last met. It also occurs a lot more if the two people share a similar career entry time and/or industry.

    Don't forget to mention you live in an apartment with an in-unit washer & dryer—guaranteed jealousy.

  2. The "We Should Catch Up" Moment

    We've all been in this conversation one way or the other. It's not complete with the half-hearted invitation to "touch base" sometime soon and catch up on what's happening. A real win for when that does happen, but if you've had experiences anything like mine, it's more out of sight -> out of mind.

    You can go anywhere from a fake phone number to a shared calendar event here. Proceed with caution.

  3. The "I Hope They Don't Recognize Me" Moment

    No shame for these moments. I've had my fair share of them too. Sometimes you're just looking to make a midnight run to your local grocery store for another tub of Ben&Jerry's half-baked, and you're not looking to engage. So you walk against the flow of the store and get out as soon as you can. There's no time to contemplate if you want the latest version of a Hershey's chocolate bar.

    Consider adding some [awkward] silence to the mix. If the other person manages to get you talking - you've found a hidden gem.

  4. The "Who Is This Person" Moment

    So we're not the best with names and faces sometimes, it happens. The former classmate who you haven't seen in years. The friend of your friend you met at a group outing. Nothing wrong with them, I'm sure they're all great fun people, but you're too busy keeping song lyrics and random facts in your head. (No number from 1 to 999 includes the letter "a" in its word form).

  5. The "Casual Acknowledge Existence" Moment

    Uber-casual with no time to waste. A casual head nod or hand wave if you're feeling the extra energy as you continue on your way. You're in the zone, and nobody's going to stand in your way. That chipotle bowl isn't going to eat itself.

    Warning: Can get possible embarrassing if they don't reciprocate or fall into bucket #4 above.

  6. and finally, The "Of All the Gin Joints" Moment

    You're reeling from how this moment happened. You either like this person or don't mind their company at your favorite sushi spot as you "practice" your chopsticks skills. You offer to join them and pull up a chair without worrying about third-wheeling their 2nd date. After all, this is a coincidence you need to stress.

I think I'm going to make this a running list. This is people watching 2.0, everyone.

- P