Abnormalities of Life

I remember in High School, if the cool guy nodded his head at you when you were walking past, it meant you were all right. It was so exciting; aside from a non-verbal "what's up", it was an "I'm in a good mood, you won't get beat up today", or even "ya, you're cool, just don't tell anyone I said that". It was your very own status symbol, and it was great!

Now fast forward ten years (almost) to the working world. School popularity contests have transformed into much uglier and less superficial office politics. There are many of us who really don't subscribe to these, myself included.

That being said, why do I feel weird when either I walk past someone and don't get a nod or acknowledgement, or I walk past someone and don't give them a nod or acknowledgement?

I was on my way to accounting. Chris was on his was way from accounting. As we passed, he made eye contact and I looked down at my paper. I like Chris. I have to; I work 20 feet away from him. We interact all of the time. I don't really have anything more to say to him as I walk by, and I can't really even pull off the "what's up" nod either; I've seen him seven times this hour.

So why do I feel like a big idiot for not saying anything? What does one say? If I haven't seen you, I'll see how you are or I'll ask a superficial question.

Since this morning, the same thing happened three more times with three other people. Two just ignored me, and I again ignored someone else I just finished speaking with. What thought now comes to their mind? Do we revert back to high school mentality? Is Heather going to think I don't like her?

Actually Heather, I just want to beat you up.