By the time my son was born, I was divoriced, so I had farmed my daughters out for a week to different relatives. When my sister brought back my youngest daughter who was just short of being two, she let her out to play in the yard. I asked my sister where she was, and she pointed at a toddler running around with brown hair on her shoulders. I had to look twice, she had a habit of twisting her hair into knots when she sucked her thumb, so I rarely left the hair down to get ahold of. She really looked cute, but at first glance I had not recognized her, and felt really stupid. :-)

Linda

Barbara Walters told a story on The View not too long ago how she got on an elevator with someone who looked SO FAMILIAR to her but she couldn't place him. It was driving her nuts. She then realized - it was her EX-HUSBAND!

Kinda like seeing a school teacher in church or at the grocery store, right? They're just "out of place!" I remember when I was little and seeing my kindergarten teacher at the grocery store in "casual clothes," not her teaching attire (back then teachers dressed more formally). It was kinda wierd for me.

tHIS STORY IS SO FUNNY AND IS WHAT I ENJOY ABOUT YOUR BLOG -YOUR TOUCHING US WHERE WE ALL LIVE AT TIMES. tHANKS FOR SHARING.

You are not alone in this weird occurance. It happened to me but with my boyfriends roomate-a guy I had known for months-and then boom! I was unable to recognizing him. SOOO Embarassing! Atleast it happened with your kids and not someone as awkward as a roomate! Oh and P.S. I am really glad you are on the TODAY show. I really enjoy watching you every morning as i get ready for work. This may be none of my business but I feel that the Today show matches your abilities as a journalist much better than the view.

During a time around one of my birthdays, my brother & his then girlfriend (now wife) flew in from the UK (unbeknown to me). I was working at the time and in through one of the days walked three people (my mum, brother & future SIL) holding balloons & calling out Happy Birthday. I simply thought these people were crazy. Took me about 30 seconds plus to realize who they were & what they were doing.
Yes - been there experienced it & it is v. weird.

11/6/07
HI..MEREDITH:
GREAT..1,000 MILLIONAIRE...
WE WILL ALL BE WATCHING TO
SEE THE KIDS..
I BET THEY ENJOYED DOING IT
FOR YOU!
HAVE A GREAT WEEK
TONI

Happens to me all the time. I work behind a counter all day, and when I see my customers "counterless", I can't figure out who they are!

I think your losing it.xo

That happened with my mom and me too. I was working at a fast food joint as a teenager and my mom came in to give me something I had left at home. I was working the counter and in came my mom. I said hi MOM and she said hi Karen then turned to my manager and said can you please give this to my daughter Karen. My manager and I immediatly started laughing and it took her until I said Mom it's me for her to realize what she had done. The funniest part was that she had even said hi to me. We still laugh about it to this day.

I can't remember names to save my life-- so this was rather funny to read.

This reminds me of when I first started working for our local rural telephone company. While sitting at my coworker's desk balancing the days payments she felt confident to leave me to task. Upon returning to her desk that faced the long corridor she was walking up I could see she had a very puzzled look on her face and as she stared at me she burst into laughter. When I asked what was the matter she replied that when she looked at me sitting behind her desk she breifly thought, "Wow, I look different today." I laughed too and couldn't agree more since I have about 5 inches on her and a whole lot more curves. We have been laughing for alomost 9years now.

Dear Mer, you are not alone! I was also on an elevator when a guy came in and right away I knew I've seen him in his underware. But I was totally lost as to who he was. I even thought that I slept with him, but it was kind of not possible since I'm a lesbian for many years now and he looked very "recent". It was after I left that I realize he was in an off-Broadway play I've seen 3 or 4 weeks before.
Congrats on the Millionaire milestone!... and of course it is difficult to see your kids when they are not in the place where you expect them to be. Probably on the streets you would recognize them right away!
You are not loosing it! Don't worry! You are definitely one of my favorite MILF! LOL! Hugs from Berlin.

HI Meredith, I do that alot with people who I see in a store and I don't know where I have seen them before and it turns out they work in a bank that I go to just about everyday it's just I am not used to seeing this person from the waist down. It has happened to me in a store with my own twin sister, now that is bad but if you are not expecting to see them it happens.
I liked the picture of you at your desk, you always look so nice.
It is good to have you back, I missed you while you were not blogging.
Love ya Meredith
Joan K.
Wisconsin

I think you are losing it too! :)

So glad to see you blogging again!

Meredith...
You are doing a great job. Thanks for your professionalism. I heard on Monday's show that you were going to run the NYC marathon. As a marathon coach and a competitive marathoner, I encourage you to try the NYC marathon in 2008. If you would like online training advice and programs, I would be happy to send them your way.
Blessings,
-Mike Aldrink. (run26.2@earthlink.net)

Sleep deprivation. Recent hospitalization of a loved one. Recent experience with a bird leaving the nest. Perimenopausal changes of the brain. Caring for a family. And you want to know if you're losing it? If you are walking and talking and holding down two jobs you are doing fantastic!

Have a good! To-Day MLV.

Yes, it's happened to me too. I'm actually quite pleased when it does because, for a few seconds I'm able to see someone I love objectively.

Hi Meredith. My father and I never miss a millionaire show. keep up the good work. I will be watching the 1,000th episode and looking for your children.

When my husband and I were eating breakfast in Beverly Hills and couple sat behind us. I told my husband the man was the best looking man I had ever seen in my life (hubby was ok with this). About 30 minutes later I finally realized that the good-looking man was Rob Lowe.

Very nice pictures of the kids. It's too bad Ben wasn't there to share in your joy. As for the other two, Gabe looks exactly like you. And Lily has grown into fine young woman.

It happened to my husband and I secretly (maybe not so) got an uncommon joy out of it. He was a bartender for many years and a woman came in and talked to him in a very familiar manner. I just thought she was forward, he's cute! But he was profession, served her and went about his business. About 20 minutes later she went to him and said 'you don't know who I am do you?' 'No mam, I'm sorry I don't' 'We were married for 15 years!!!' I was sorry for his embarrassment but secretly (maybe not so) joyful... am I bad?

I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time either flying into or out of JFK, and it's not uncommon to run into famous people there. Much like yourself, they look quite different from what we're used to seeing on the tube. So no big surprise there. Now, as for your own kids, well, that's another story.

Are we doomed to an eternity of Millionaire reruns thanks to the writers' strike?

Hi Meredith - Great story. Congrats on the 1000th show of Millionaire.

HI Meredith,
Your kids look so grown up and have grown into very good looking young people.
Congratulations on your 1000th show, I don't know how you do it eveyday. First of all to get up so early everyday and then to have to go to tape the Millionaire Show and then all of the regular family things that you do, I really don't think I would be able to make it.
I remember Barbara Walters telling the story about just recently when she was in an elevator and she didn't even recognize the guy in there with her was an X husband, wow is all I can say to that. He either changed a lot in the years that she hasn't seen him or she had a lot on her mind, could be both.
I give you a lot of credit getting out there and running too.
Onward, Meredith
Love ya
Joan K
Wisconsin

MV, your kids are gorgeous. You make them sound like little children, I'm stunned to see what appears to be two big teenagers. Better hang on, they're growing up fast.

your kids look so sweet. congratulations on the 1000th show!

You have two beautiful children, Meredith. Lily is a very pretty lady. I wonder who she got it from? *wink* Don't worry about the slight memory block. :)Honestly, I sometimes don't associate faces and their names... I guess it comes with age :)

You have beautiful children! Your son looks alot like his dad.

Also Meredith, Would you call yourself a disciplinarian?

As a middle school student, I spotted this older lady walking thru a NYC department store. I grabbed Mom and asked if that was one of my grade school teachers. She laughed and said it was Eleanor Roosevelt! Then in high school, I spot this short woman at Bergdorfs where I was browsing. She wore a black mink, black slacks, dark sunglasses, white scarf over her dark hair. I knew I knew her. So I said hi. We started chatting and she asked how my folks were, how was school, etc. When she kissed my cheek and sent my folks her regards, the sales lady asked me how I knew Liz Taylor! I thought it was a neighbor of mine. I guess she thought I was the kid of someone she knew!!

Good site! Good resources here, All the best!

This happened to me the other day. I was on my lunch break and went to the local pharmacy for a few things and I turned around and my husband was standing there at the checkout line smiling at me. I did a double take and it took me a few seconds to "recognize" him but when I did we got a good laugh. I totally did not expect him to be there so I was quite shocked.

Was the cake tasty, lol.

I know what you mean about seeing someone in a place where you wouldn't expect them and not recognizing them for a little bit. It's happen to me a few times.

I just love Meredith. She's such a grounded, wonderful family person. She was the main reason I watched the "View". Now that she's gone, I no longer watch it, but I LOVE her being a journalist. She's the epitomy of being a professional, plus she's such a class act - something more journalists could learn to be. It's great to see more women, plus more women over the age of 30 or 40 still going strong in journalism. Keep up the great work Meredith. You keep me inspired.

On my daughters wedding day I was helping her get dressed and the door to the bridal room opened, I looked up and wondered why this old lady was coming in "our" room. After a final adjustment to the vail, my daughter turned around and said "hi Grandma". The old lady was my own mother. I knew at that point I had lost my mind. lol.

I loved this episode! Your kids are absolutely gorgeous (and handsome)!

Dear Meredith,
You had a contestant on the show I saw today. Her name is Artelia Ellis. Artelia is of Latin origin and means attentive according to www.babynamesworld.parents.connect.com. It is a form of the Ardelia. Just thought you'd like to know and could possibly pass the information to Ms. Ellis
Thank you for your time.
Linda Huffman