Story #1
“I know who you are. My sister told me you stopped at her door the other day.”
Story #2
Knocking on a door thirty miles from your home lowers your recognition expectations. But I am surprised at times. And, more often than I would have thought.
A woman comes to the door, and I introduce myself. Suddenly, she says, “I know who you are.” It turns out that this woman lived for many years in a small town not far from Menomonie. She had relocated with her daughter, where I discovered them. Not long before, the woman called out for her adult housemate to join us. I am then introduced to the woman’s daughter, who has a clear developmental challenge. I had never met either person before.
But before leaving, I just had to ask, “Where do you know me from?” It turns out that this family had ties to the community of people with disabilities and had heard of my work as a special education teacher. We chatted for a bit and made some connections with other people we both knew. I have not been a teacher for over thirty years, and it was so nice to be acknowledged. Both adults signed my nomination papers.