you humans all look the same

Passover was interesting this year.  My family was there, some extended family, and a friend of my cousin - and her husband, the jeet kune do kickboxing instructor from the martial arts school I just started a month ago.

It was surreal.  As we were introduced, he laughed and said we'd met ..but I couldn't place where.  He looked really familiar, but my brain was looking in all the wrong places, weddings, other family get-togethers.  I couldn't place who he was, and had to ask.

Combat Fitness, he offered, but I was still confused.  He had to go so far as to tell me that he teaches the class, before it clicked.  Doh!  I don't go to his class as often as some of the others, but still.  I guess I'm not so good with faces.  The difference in context really threw me.  

Got me thinking about how context dependent my awareness of other people can be.  I compartmentalize everything, to better cope with various people I deal with.  I was shocked to find someone in the wrong compartment, but I think I handled it ok.

I mean except for not even recognizing the guy.. and I wonder why I have trouble connecting with people.  I can hardly pay attention to superfluous details such as what their faces look like.