Is it Really that Strange to Know Strangers in our Lives?

It’s a funny concept to think of the people who you know, that you know don’t know you. Read that again. Now I’m going to name a few people and how I know them, hopefully they don’t mind. But then again they don’t know me so they’ll likely never read this.

From my track and field days a few names come to mind, all of which went on to have successful track and field careers, unlike myself. That career (or should we call it a hobby) came to a screeching halt when LSSAA finished in my grade 12 year. Haley Cadwallader - steeplechase queen from SCITS, the Kohlmeier girls from St. Pat’s - dang could they run, Lydia Willemse - this girl can fly around a track and she's also a damn good ringette player, Maggie Mullen - this girl can throw, and Derek Drouin - well you may know him.

I’m only going to elaborate on the last two as one of my besties is a mutual friend with both of them.

Maggie Mullen, power and strength come to mind when I think back to how she could toss a javelin across the infield. In grade 10, I decided to give javelin a try (less hill running at track practice if I had to go toss a stick around for a bit) needless to say I wasn’t very good at it, and Maggie kicked my ass.

Derek Drouin – let’s be serious I don’t remember him from my high school days because, well I didn’t compete against him. When he made his Olympic debut in 2012 I learned who he was – high jumper extraordinaire. Summer of 2019 I can remember being star struck when I saw him at Lowe’s only months before his sister’s wedding, who married this mutual friend, Jord. But of course, I didn’t say hi, why would I? He has no idea who I am. Not to mention he likely already has enough randoms that say hello to him while he’s in public.

Sitting around with Jord, after watching a World Junior game, we had this conversation about people that you know but they don’t know you and I couldn’t help but laugh. (I already had this blog written before this conversation LOL). I guess you could say Jordan is my connection to both Derek and Maggie. They both stood up in his wedding, meanwhile I was the girl in a pink dress sitting at table 18...that they didn’t know.

Ok but really my conversation with Jord was about crushing on people that have no idea who you are. Don’t pretend like this has never happened to you. It happens to everyone!

Like Helen and Merle that come in for a swim at the Y every morning. On their way out one day, I saw Helen was staring in the big window overlooking the pool. I said, “Helen did you forget something?”. “No no” she says, “there’s a guy out there”. Yes, Helen there are a few out there. I’m thinking she’s looking at my good pal Adrian strutting his stuff around the pool deck, but not quite in Helen’s age demographic. Like 40 year age range were talking. Merle pipes up and says, “the guy in the second lane, he said ‘hi’ and my knees nearly buckled.”

A – I had a real good chuckle with Helen and Merle about this whole situation

B – I realized this happens across all ages, as they are both nearly 70 years old

C – This inside knowledge made the coming weeks rather entertaining

Every time ‘the guy in the second lane’ came in while they were there, I would purposefully try and put him in the lane beside Helen and Merle. They sure weren’t opposed to it. But unfortunately, with another lockdown on our hands, this isn’t happening anymore.

Another perfect example of this is Scottie-too-Hottie from my U of Windsor days. Scottie was a hottie! He played for the football team and worked at the campus gym which I frequented daily. But I’m sure it was just a coincidence that I always seemed to be working out when he was working. Scottie-too-hottie definitely doesn’t know who I am and I guess it wasn’t meant to be.

Ok then there are the super random ones (or maybe not so random) like when Amy pulls up Instagram and says, “you should date this guy”. A good-looking guy that I’ve never met (nor has Amy), never spoke to, heck I don’t even know his name, but he’s cute! As I sit around with the girls having a glass of wine (or four), we get to know him through social media. To a point I go to my friend Dee’s house a week later (Deirdre, but Dee for short) and she says, “I saw your boyfriend today”. Pardon? Who might that be? “Your Instagram boyfriend, he biked by my house today”. That’s right, we checked out his social media to a point she recognized the complete stranger biking by her house. Creepy, right? Well let’s be serious, that is the reality for many, but we just often don’t admit it.

Have you ever met someone you knew like this? But remembered that they don’t know you, so you had a really awkward conversation because you had to pretend you don’t know them? Just tell yourself to play it cool but believe me you won’t. Embrace the awkwardness!

Keep in mind, this can go both ways. So if someone knows you, you've clearly made a name for yourself, good or bad.

Cheers to the strangers in our lives that we may or may never meet.

Kate