The other day someone greeted me on a busy street and said hello warmly. I looked at her blankly. Then she said, “It’s Sonali Shah.”  The name seemed very familiar. But I still couldn’t place her. I chatted with her for a few moments. She asked me about my work, and I asked her about hers hoping it would give me a clue about who she was. But I still couldn't place her.

After we say goodbye and crossed the street, a friend who was with me realized that I had bluffed my way through that brief encounter. I admitted sheepishly that I had. Then I told her that it wasn't the first time I had 'forgotten' someone. It was scary how bad I was getting at remembering people. And she said, “Just pretend you have face blindness the next time you have trouble recoginsing someone.”
 
Later that night I looked up the condition called Face Blindness. A website said: People who have this condition have trouble recognizing even family and friends. To them, everyone is like stranger. 
 

The ability to recognize family, friends, neighbours and coworkers is something everyone takes for granted. But for those suffering from face blindness – which is formally known as prosopagnosia – the routine act of greeting others can be fraught with anxiety. It is not that they can’t see people. Their eyesight is fine. But because of an impairment in the brain, they are unable to remember what people look like. This condition can also be acquired through stroke and some brain injuries.  

Usually people with face blindness recognize rely on factors like voice, hair and context and try to identify someone.  Imagine not being to recognize your partner, parents, your child…it can be pretty traumatizing. 
 
Nope. I am never using that as an excuse for forgetting people. I still think I have early Alzeimers