blog entry

Cool Broads act like Sammy Hagar

A few years ago my husband was at the airport heading for his gate when he noticed a small group of people walking toward him. The guy in the middle of the group stood out, looked sort of familiar, but my husband couldn’t place him. When he made eye contact, the mystery fellow gave him a friendly nod and a smile and said, "how ya doing”. It was then that my husband recognized the fellow as Sammy Hagar.



My husband still remembers this moment and it struck him as interesting how natural it seemed for Mr. Hagar to be friendly and, well, cool. The rock star probably just assumed my husband had recognized him (I mean, how many times do you figure he’s been accosted by fans in an airport) and yet he didn’t scowl or avoid my husband’s gaze…he met it head on with a friendly greeting.

Now, Sammy Hagar is obviously not a broad, and we’re clearly not rock stars, but his friendly attitude toward a stranger is definitely something Cool Broads can, and should, emulate. The way we treat others is an important difference between Cool Broads and the uncool and it's also something that we should always be perfecting (because nobody's perfect).

Here’s a good example of how NOT to treat people that you've never met.

I was recently introduced to a woman whom I consistently run into a few times a week, either at the gym or at the preschool our children attend. Though we move in similar circles, we’ve never been formally introduced and have never really spoken.

During our introduction, our mutual friend asked if we’d ever met. Since I didn't think my mug was THAT nondescript, I said to the woman, “No, but I’ve seen you in class and I think your child goes to preschool with mine.”

I was met with a blank stare and then finally, “No…I don’t think I’ve ever seen you”.

If this was true and she didn’t recognize me, a Cool Broad would have said, “Hi, yes of course…my name is so and so,” and then extended her hand for a formal introduction.

I can't imagine that it makes anybody feel good to admit that you don't recognize them (if they clearly recognize you). But if we all act like rock stars and assume that people will recognize us from somewhere, we can skip the should-I-act-like-I-know-her-or-not quandary and just be cool.

Sammy Hagar didn’t know my husband from a hole in the ground, but he acknowledged my husband's presence nonetheless…and I’d go so far as to bet that if he HAD been introduced to my husband at the airport and my husband had gushed, “I met you once a few years back at a concert,” (which isn’t true but I’m trying to make a point), Sammy Hagar would’ve said, “Yes, of course, good to see you again,” and then flashed that winning smile that we all know and have come to expect.

I’m terrible at remembering names…TERRIBLE. When I’m introduced to someone, I repeat their name (hoping to cement it into my brain) and then tell them that unfortunately, I am challenged when it comes to remembering names. I also ask them to try not be offended if I can’t remember their name the next time we meet. That way, when I say, “I’m sorry, I can’t remember your name but you promised not to be offended,” the next time we meet, it’s sort of funny and nobody takes offense (or at least I hope nobody does).

None of us are perfect, but if we’re honest and gracious, we can all be cool. And I, for one, can’t think of many things better than a world full of Cool Broads.

~tcb