Maybe I need new glasses

I'm standing in a coffeeshop today, when this guy behind me asks, "So what's good here?" "Everything," I said, turning to look at him. My first swift hit was that he was a traveller -- he had that "passing through" look. My second, just as swift, was that he was young. I was staring at him trying to figure exactly how young, since his skin looked young but his eyes looked old -- when finally the rising static in my brain which I'd been stubbornly ignoring, gave a little "Pop" and vanished, and I realized, "I KNOW this guy. It's my housemate."

Now THAT's sad. I mean, I know I'm bad at faces, and new haircuts throw me off, and he had a new hat. But still -- I LIVE with the guy. We had dinner last night.

That kind of freaked me out. What was even weirder was, when I later told Jeff my impressions, he said, "Your first hit was right on; travelling was all I'd been thinking about at work, intensely." And, "When I'm out and about, I keep a wall up that says don't come in. You don't ever see that wall at home." That made me feel somewhat better. Although clueless, at least I'm still vibed.

===

He and I are currently in a period of separateness, personally; of severed connection. I am consciously not-seeing him at home. What shakes me is how strong and deep that denial goes, that I could not-see him when looking directly at him.