Hey! I know you!

One thing I don't think I'll ever get used to is walking down the street - or going anywhere for that matter - and seeing a million different faces and not one of them being familiar. Everywhere I went in Birmingham: the mall, the walking trails, events, restaurants - you name it, I would see someone I know. Someone from college at the mall, someone from church out walking, someone from high school at a restaurant, someone from work at a football game. You get the picture. If it wasn't someone I knew personally, it was someone who is friends with my parents or sisters or cousins...there are just a handful of us Mummerts in Alabama, and you can bet I'm related to them if you meet one!

Anyway, I'm accustomed to hearing a horn's "beep, beep!" and turning to wave at the friend passing by in their car. I can count the times on one hand that I was on the strip in Homewood during the day and did NOT see someone I knew! So, of course, when I hear "beep, beeps!" here in New York, my initial reaction is to turn and see who's saying hello. After two months, I'm still trying to train myself not to whip around with a big smile and wave at whomever, since it's always just a cab driver announcing he's coming on through the intersection whether you're ready or not!

You can imagine my delight when I was in South Street Seaport last weekend and saw a friend of mine! I know I made the biggest production of "Well, how are YOU?! Imagine running in to you here!" Then a few days later I saw another friend while I was running along the trail by the East River. It was just like when I used to see friends at the Lakeshore Trail. Yesterday I saw Lauren and Jake on the street - we both screamed with excitement of having run into someone we know in New York! And later I was sitting in the park and a guy I know from church came up to say hello!

Okay, so four people over the course of two months isn't that great, considering there were probably a few times in Birmingham I logged four random run-ins in one day, but still. For New York - and for still being so new - I think it's fabulous!

Oh, and I can now add a celebrity to my run-ins list: I said a very cool "hi" to Jimmy Fallon from Saturday Night Live when I saw him Saturday morning as he walked out of the gate of Gramercy Park. Definitely can't say I ever did that in Birmingham!


* Disclaimer - No, I didn't act like a tourist and take a picture of him! I just found this on the Internet for those who aren't familiar with Jimmy Fallon!