Not a particularly hysterical story, or even one with a real point, but one I'd like to share anyway.
     Back in the day (yes, I said it), there used to be a show on MTV called Singled Out. Someone of one gender would, without looking, whittle down a large group of the other gender to one person he/she would then date. There was always the moment of truth at the end. You see, the speed of face is faster than the speed of thought. There was the split second when the person's real reaction to his/her date's appearance would come through before the brain sent the signal to be diplomatic and act excited anyway. My sister and I created a name for this - appropriately, the Singled Out reaction. That leads me to my story, which would have been much shorter without this introduction.
     Yesterday I was at Target. What else is new, right? Why I can't seem to get everything I need in one trip, I don't know. I'm starting to think I should just set up a cot in the back. I digress. So, I'm in the notebook aisle (I needed one), very aware that I'm by myself, and with my peripheral vision, I see red shirt and khaki pants. The person wearing them stops and I here this enthusiastic, "WELL, HEY NOW!" Knowing there was really no one else he could be talking to, and knowing that couldn't be aimed at me, I glanced up to see what was going on. He was looking right at me. The minute I caught his eye, I got it...the Singled Out reaction. He totally thought I was someone else. I waited about half a second for him to acknowledge his folly with an "oops" or an "oh, sorry", but it didn't come. Clearly he was flustered. I figured I'd let him off the hook and just return to what I was doing. After all, there was no need to pretend that he might have been talking to me. We both knew we didn't know each other. About the moment my eyes dropped back down to the notebook I had been looking at, I got his reaction, and it wasn't the one I was expecting. With the same enthusiasm as the first comment, he said, "HOW ARE YOU TODAY, MA'AM?!" In disbelief, I looked back up. He was going to play this as if he did it on purpose, as if part of his job as a Target employee is to randomly greet customers like old friends he is beyond psyched to see. Now I was a little flustered. I think I barely mustered out a half smile and a "fine, thanks" before he took off down the aisle and out of the uncomfortable situation. I couldn't help but chuckle a little to myself after he left. Well played, Target employee! I've seen less commitment to a part from Dustin Hoffman.