He looked so familiar, a combination of my father and grandfather: the work-boots and the barn coat (Dad), the foggy spectacles (Dad), the flat cap (Grandpa), the beer (?) in his bag (Grandpa), the hint of loneliness (Grandpa). A bit giddy, I wanted to look him in the eyes, smile wide, and say, it's so good to see you again.
I did not. Undoubtedly, jet-lag and sleep-deprivation (flying Edmonton to Halifax to London) contributed to this sentimental moment but this phenomenon happens regularly when I travel. Many times, I have encountered other foreigners I'm positive I know but it's just psychology. Unconscious anxiety compels us to seek safety: the familiar strangers effect is one way we feel more secure, more attached in new contexts.
It's quite a common human experience and I kinda love it. Maybe most strangers really are just friends we haven't yet met?
I have this happen often, strangers remind me of people from my past. It's nice that it brought up such good memories for you.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter who was living in Calgary at the time, met another Calgarian in a market in London. We had a similar experience. We were at the Hopewell Tocks in NB. There at the entrance was a friend who just lived a few blocks over form us n Sarnia ON. We never crossed paths by happenstance in Sarnia.
ReplyDelete