The background story:
Abs class. It all started with Abs Class. A 30-minute routine that I had taken to starting this past July. It became part of my schedule each week and with the exception of a few work trips to Boston, I never missed a class. I noticed that it not only strengthened my core but it was also assisting in the efforts behind Operation: Muffin Top Removal.
The first class was memorable. I was the only person who was a newbie. When the instructor walked in I thought, "well, this will definitely help me get my butt to class." He was cute; tall, dark and ethnic. I heard his name once and I remembered it. The class was hard and at the end of it he came up to me and said, "you've been to my class before, right?" I told him that it was my first class but I plan to come back. (I thought it would be pretty obvious that I was the new person as my arms were visibly shaking as I struggled to stay up for the last plank pose. I refuse to quit during any type of group class and it's not because I'm strong, it's because I'm stubborn as hell.) And so my relationship with abs class began.
I would occasionally see the instructor when I worked out on lunch. We would exchange hellos and that was it. Cute guys and lugging heavy things have the same effect on me. Both make me laugh uncontrollably. Hence why I never flirt and I never help friends move. The results have been disastrous and is why I'm single and have friend's with broken knick-knacks.
Flash forward story:
Thursday lunch workout. I had been to abs class on Tuesday night. I had a quick exchange with the instructor at the end of class. I was doing the final set of crunches and suddenly his face appeared hovering over mine. He asked, "Are you staying for kick boxing?" I told him no, I was hitting the treadmill next. He smiled, grabbed the weights that were next to my mat and put them away for me.
I walk in two days later to do a quick workout on lunch. He's at the front desk and says hi to me. Then he follows it with, "I haven't seen you at class in a while?"
Mw: Huh?
Abs Man: You haven't been to class lately.
Mw: I was there last week and just this past Tuesday night, too.
Abs Man: You were?
Mw: Yes, we chatted at the end of class. (Wanting to say: Don't you remember our conversation? You asked if I was staying for kick boxing, I said no, you put my weights away. You were wearing black shorts and a red t-shirt and I had on black shorts and a red tank top, we matched for Pete's sake!)
Abs Man: Huh, that's odd, I totally don't remember seeing you.
Mw: Well I was actually going to tell you after class that you need to make the class harder. I think you were too easy on us this past Tuesday.
Abs Man: Really?
Mw: Yes, I kid you not.
Abs Man: Well, I will definitely work on some new exercises.
Mw: Great! See ya then!
And with that I walked into the locker room. As I ran on the treadmill I was perplexed. I thought I was making some headway here with this guy but in reality I was just another face in the class. I can't blame him though. There's been plenty of people whose names I have forgotten. Conversations and encounters can be very fleeting to one person but seem very personal to another.
There is a reason why we remember some people's names and forget another's as soon as they walk away. What is it about someone that makes them memorable? Is it their appearance? Their eyes, smile, voice? Why do we quickly remember one person but forget their friend next to them? I don't think it can be attributed to a good memory and I'm sure there are different reasons for both men and women. Does it all come down to looks? A great conversation or a good laugh? I'm definitely guilty of forgetting both guys and girls names. There have also been numerous times that I've had to remind people of my name after a third or fourth introduction. Sometimes it doesn't bother me, sometimes, like in the case of the Abs Man, it does.
There are some people who automatically stand out in a crowd, no matter what they do and there are others who, no matter what they do, will always blend in with the crowd. There's a role for everyone, you just need to decide which part you want to play.
