What do I remember?

When I was little, probably about 9 or 10, I was at the local department store with my mother. We were on the elevator and another kid and his mom got on. My mother nudged me and said quietly, "Isn't that Greg?" I just nodded and looked straight ahead. "Well, aren't you going to speak?" I shrugged and kept looking. On the other side of the elevator, this little boy is also looking straight ahead and not speaking.

We rode up several floors like this. Now keep in mind that this boy had been in my class every year since the first grade and our moms knew each other. While we were busy not looking at each other, they exchanged looks -- you know the one, the "what are they doing?" look.

The doors opened and they got off. As soon as they closed again, my mother said, "Why didn't you say hello?" I never could give her a good answer. "People will think you're stuck up if you keep that up," was her final comment.

I still don't know why I couldn't say hello. I know some people will say we had a crush on each other, but that wasn't it. I had very little use for boys until junior high. lol But this boy was well-liked at school and had lots of friends. I think I thought he should be the one to speak first. That if I merited notice he'd let me know.

Not a great attitude for a future feminist!

I still have trouble initiating conversation with people I don't know well, especially in a crowd.

I don't know why I thought of that this morning, but I remember it like it was last week. Funny how things just pop into your head.