Day 19 ~ Vanity

I lined up at the counter for my doctor's appointment. There were two people in front of me. The receptionist said, "If you are going to be seen for your hand, there is another lobby down the hall." I said, "If not, we just wait here?" "Yes." Then she looked at the first person in line. As a reflex, I did too. I saw him turning his head from looking at me to meeting the eyes of the person behind the counter, who had just asked: "What's your name?" That quick glance at his swinging face was enough to realize I knew his name. I could have said it. But I didn't react on time, I could have made a good anecdote by spelling out his name to the receptionist. Besides, what if I were wrong? Soon enough a smile from my prior colleague confirmed I wasn't. As soon as we were both checked in, he greeted me with: "You don't look a day older than when I last saw you. Not a single day!" The best compliment to my vanity, given that the last time he saw me was almost eighteen years ago.