Serendipity
on Jul 28 in General by DanAs people who follow me on twitter will already know, I got recognized in the library yesterday.
In itself that’s not particularly astounding. In fact I generally get recognized every single day. For example Kerry usually has a fair idea who I am; and the kids noticed when I shaved my beard off which would indicate at least a passing acquaintance with my facial features. My mother I’m less sure about, but then again she is quite old so senility could be setting in.
But the difference this time was that I got recognized by someone I didn’t already know, and who only knew me from reading this blog.
“Are you that guy who writes All That comes With It?” she asked, “I read it every day, look I’ve even got it on my phone” and she showed me
I must point out that this woman was very nice and very pleasant. In no way was she acting inappropriately and in many ways she made my day. I didn’t take her approaching me to be any sort of stalking or anything, she was just being friendly. However it completely freaked me out.
“You’ve completely freaked me out” I told her, perhaps a little insensitively. And then I sort of scuttled away and hid in a corner.
And I’ve been feeling bad about it ever since.
It wasn’t her approaching me that threw me, it was the fact that I didn’t quite know how to respond. She caught me on the hop and I hadn’t had time to get my sociable head on. What’s more I really badly needed the toilet and so 65% of my brainpower was tied up trying to calculate how long I had left to coral the kids, get my books stamped, and find a public loo before I wet myself.
So, to the woman who came up to me in the library, if you’re reading this I’m very sorry I was a little off hand with you. It’s not you, it’s me. And my bladder.
I must point out I’m not under any illusions that the encounter somehow catapulted me into blogging superstar status. I’m pretty free and easy on here about mentioning the village where I live (Slaithwaite. See, I did it again) and it should be no surprise that my fellow villagers might stumble over here while googling for something else. Hell, that’s how I started reading Rol’s blog (although he’s moved over the hill to Meltham now, the turncoat). To be honest I feel a bit of an egotistical arse for mentioning it at all, especially after I posted this smug blathering only a week ago. But I wanted to apologize to her and this is the only way I have available.
The other serendipitous thing that happened to me yesterday was bumping in to Neil and Rachael (of The Joseph Salmon Trust fame) whilst having lunch with my mum, sister, and soon to be brother in law. This wasn’t particularly amazing as it had been Racheal who first introduced Kerry and I to that particular cafe, and so not surprising that they frequent it now and again.
What was pretty cool though was Neil picking up a copy of the local paper laying on the counter and pointing out that issue contained a photo I had taken of him about nine months ago. You can read the article that went along with my photo here. It’s all about the recent expansion of the charity, but all that stuff pails into insignificance when compared to the masterful photography that accompanied it.
So all in all yesterday was a pretty good day for the old ego. If anyone wants my autograph I’ve got a special offer on at the moment of £10 per signing or 3 for £25.
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I get recognized by people I should know but I keep forgetting names..irritates the shit out of me :P Or by people who know my brother (it’s the other way around too).
I’ll just trick you into signing something and I’ll have your autograph for free though and then I’ll sell it on e-bay and I’ll be rich…or I’ll just be happy with it :)
.-= Arjan´s last blog ..Some movies I saw of late =-.
@Arjan, Trick me into signing something? That sounds a bit alarming? Not a contract or anything? I’m not selling you my soul Arjan, I’ve told you before.
That is what happens when you become an A-List blogger. Comes with the territory ;-)
.-= Kirsty´s last blog ..hotpot =-.
@Kirsty, A list? I don’t think the numbers go low enough for where I’m positioned. I think I’m into those little arrow symbols.
Wait until the Disney ad comes out. You won’t be able to leave the house for autograph hunters on your doorstep. ;-)
.-= Preseli Mags´s last blog ..The Secret Seven =-.
@Preseli Mags, or angry peasents with torches, one of the two.
God, famous people that whinge about their notoriety. You’ll be getting papped next, then cocaine, crack, heroin, the priory, the OK spread about how you’re totally fine now, the priory, then arizona, India, the Uke album, film of your life and in the end you’ll be forced to fake your own demise to get away from it all…
It’s all down from here. Sorry.
.-= Catherine´s last blog ..Early Birds =-.
@Catherine, the Uku album sounds great though. Maybe it’ll all be worth it to leave the world that legacy.
You know, I admit that I thought your rising notoriety would change you, but I was wrong. I mean, 3 for 25? That’s really quite the magnanimous deal.
.-= Erin´s last blog ..I imagine this is how Brangelina’s children must treat them =-.
@Erin, for you the price goes up to £50 for 3 unfortunatly. Sorry, I charge what the market will bear I’m afraid.
My plan to steal stuff from your house and sell it on Ebay, has suddenly grown more weight.
.-= SingleParentDad´s last blog ..Our Glourious Seven Week Schedule =-.
@SingleParentDad, I knew it. I shall start bolting things to the floor imediately. I shall start now with the chickens.
After being in a locally-famous band for 8 years, I get recognized by strangers all the time. It’s frustrating for me because I never know which of them I’m supposed to know. Like a few months ago when a neighbor of ours came up to me and said he saw one of our shows and I stuck out my hand and said, “Well thanks! My name is Jeff.” and he said, “I know… you live across the street from me.” That’s a tough blunder to recover from.
btw… was there supposed to be a photo associated with that newspaper link?… cause I don’t see one. If not, maybe you could repost it so we can see it again.
.-= Jeff´s last blog ..Good luck my friend… I wish you well =-.
@Jeff, The site doesn’t print the photos unfortunatly. I’ll see if I can dig it out.
Hi from the lass in the libary sorry again about yesterday just had to come say hi! Kind regards.
@louise, I’m glad you came back! and you have nothing to apologise for.
I was very worried I upset you. I’ll be more sociable if we run ito each other again i promis.
I would die.
I would keel over in horror at the prospect of someone approaching me like that.
.-= Xbox4NappyRash´s last blog ..Don’t tell Bono =-.
@Xbox4NappyRash, I must remmebr that and hire a few people to mob you. Actually, with your huge readership I probably don’t have to.
You don’t tend to put photo’s on your blog though do you? Saying that, all it would take would be someone to overhear you talkign about your sperm and they woild i.d. you in a heartbeat.
I recognized a fellow blogger once in a bookstore. I was too much of a chicken to say hi.
@Ed, who was it?
Welcome to my world. I get that at least once every 5 years or so. It’s hard to stay humble.
@Whit, but people are usually throwing eggs and rotten tomatoes when they recognise you.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Serendipity =-.
@Dan, I bring people together.
.-= Whit´s last blog ..Leaving on a Jet Plane =-.
Paparazzi next, followed by excessive consumption of drink and dugs….celebrity is a tough thing. Don’t forget us now!
.-= Nota Bene´s last blog ..Say cheese! =-.
@Nota Bene, sorry, who are you again? :)
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Know Your Walkers – Helen =-.
My mom doesn’t even recognize me when I am out in public. I am fairly anonymous.
Loved the part where you had to go to the toilet. Too funy.
.-= SeattleDad´s last blog ..Random Tuesday: Hot Edition =-.
@SeattleDad, you are mixing up “not recognizing you” with”disowning you”
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Know Your Walkers – Helen =-.
That happened to me once, while the kids and I were standing in line at a sandwich shop. This woman walked up and said, “Are you Phil?”
My initial reaction was, “Oh no, how am I supposed to know this person?” And so the look on my face was one of confusion mixed with brain strain.
Then she said, “I read your blog!”
Which was even more confusing because I generally don’t put my picture on my blog.
She read my face and guessed what I was thinking. “Oh, the hat gives you away.”
The hat! Of course. The stupid yellow Vandals hat. She saw some goofy looking guy in a yellow hat with two kids and figured it out.
Then she apologized for scaring me, because I guess I still looked rattled, but really it was just me thinking I was losing my memory.
@Idaho Dad, Wow, recognized from a hat! I have a few distinctive T shirts that I’m often wearing on the blog. My “mmmm chives” one springs to mind. I very nearly wore one of my new ones – Toast ambassador, on the online Disney ad I recently took part in, but chickened out at the last moment.
.-= Dan´s last blog ..Know Your Walkers – Helen =-.
Thankfully, nobody’s ever recognised me from reading my stupid blog.
If I ever saw you in the library, I’d throw the Encyclopaedia Britannica at you.
Just for fun, you understand.
.-= Rol´s last blog ..The Wine Of Angels =-.