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I'm Carole, living in London, happily married and mum to two amazing boys.I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer in April 2010. Surgery took place in November 2010 and I now have a permanent colostomy...Spinal mets were then diagnosed in October 2011...In January 2012 I was told of further spread to the hip area (multiple lesions)..My life expectancy is now 6-9 months. Walk alongside me on the last part of my experience with this..

Tuesday 1 February 2011

I'm Just Not Memorable.........:-)

Yesterday I went to the GP nurse to get my wound redressed.

Whilst waiting in the surgery area a lady entered and approached me asking if I knew where a particular street was in the local area. I had never heard of it and directed her to the lady on reception who proceeded to help her - she had also not heard of it.
Anyway, then it was my turn to see nurse so off I went.

Ten minutes or so later I left the surgery and heard this voice saying 'Excuse me, excuse me, do you know where this street is please?'...
I turned around and it was the same lady from the GP surgery!

I smiled and said 'Actually you already asked me a little while ago - sorry I can't help but maybe you could pop into that shop over there and ask them?'
I went on my way whilst she rushed off across the road.

Literally two minutes later, footsteps running behind me and the same (very breathless by now) lady ran up and said 'Excuse me, do you know where this street is please?'....
At this point I laughed and said 'No, sorry - I've no idea' - she rushed off in the opposite direction.

Then in the afternoon I went out to pick something up from the local shop and was approached by one of those Charity workers who lurk on the high street trying to get you to sign up for regular payments by direct debit.
He smiled and said the usual 'Can I just take a few moments of your time?'...I stopped briefly and said 'Sorry, can't help you right now - I'm off work sick and have no money to actually feed us all currently, but good luck anyway' then walked on.

Two minutes later I returned past him and he jumped into my face (again) and said 'Can I just take a few minutes of your time?'..I laughed and said 'You just spoke to me a few minutes ago'...he looked puzzled and said 'Really!...I don't remember you at all, sorry'.

Then as I went into the supermarket an elderly man approached me and said 'Can you tell me where the main line rail station is?'...I directed him, he thanked me and I entered the store.
Ten minutes later when I was leaving the SAME man approached me AGAIN and asked ...yes, you've guessed it.....
'Do you know where the main line station is?'...I took a deep breath and said 'Yes, it's where I told you it was, ten minutes ago' (with a smile)....
He looked at me really puzzled and said 'I didn't ask you before, I only just decided to go there a little while ago'

What did I learn from all this?........I learned that I obviously have a very approachable face but not a particularly memorable one :-)
Still laughing about it today


8 comments:

  1. LOL! What a strange day! Maybe they were on day release?!

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  2. Maybe....but you know what London's like. You had your fair share (Ms Russian McDonald/Ms Make-up etc) during your stay.

    We just have faces that say 'approach me, but don't attempt to make any sense' :-))))

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  3. Carle, What a great story about the memory of others, or guess I should say, their lack thereof. I think it just indicates, people don't really focus much on who they are speaking to. This happens all the time when at the mall or supermarket and someone is passing out free samples. They often ask me more than once if I'm interested. I'm sure your face is quite memorable and for all the right reasons!!

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  4. I disagree you are memorable, it is everyone else...that was certainly a memorable day though!

    T xx

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  5. Hi Nancy,
    If that happened to me in the supermarket, I'd keep going back for more :-)

    It's true that people don't really focus on who they are talking to, especially in the larger cities. It's so rushed and busy busy busy that people are often operating on autopilot.

    Tony - it was certainly 'one of those days'...

    And thank you for the compliment. I feel a song coming on....'Unforgettable that's what you are....':-))

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  6. Perhaps there are more people on chemo than we realise !!!! Was there a Social Services bus parked nearby ?
    I think you are very memorable.

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  7. Great story Carole. Really made me laugh.
    Trouble is, where I live, EVERYone knows EVERYone! If someone stopped me in the street for directions I'd probably either be related to them, been taught at school by them or have been operated on in hospital by them!
    xxxx

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  8. I love this post. Have I met you somewhere before? You seem familiar!

    Oh, and I'm back. Missed ya!
    xxxx

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