Tony Abou-Assaleh

Drinking my medium roast coffee with sugar and cream and eating my uber expensive organic (or not?) blueberry muffin at Just Us Cafe on Barrinton Street. Editing my paper for a big conference, minding my own business, not bothering anyone.

- Tony?

I think I just heard someone calling my name. Maybe I imagined it.

- Are you Tony?

- Yes .. ?

- Hi. I’m Craig. Nice to meet you.

- Nice to meet you too.

The man goes to put some sugar and cream in his coffee. I’m puzzled. Sure I’m bad with names. Sure I’m bad with faces. Sure I met him somewhere, he remembed me, I didn’t remember him. But, what was that “nice to meet you” business all about?

He takes a seat at my table. Silence. Maybe I should say something..

- How is it going?

- Not too bad. How are you?

- Good.

- Have you been in business for long?

- Yep. About 2 years.

- How is Greg?

- Who is Greg?

- You are Tony, right?

- Yes.

- Tony from the insurance?

- What insurance?

Turns out he was meeting another Tony at the same time at the same place. Needless to say, he never met Tony before. Apparently, I just looked like someone who might be called Tony.