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May 15, 2006

another brush with greatness: the melinda gates story

In the mid-90s, the world's wealthiest woman and I had a "thing."

My office was five feet from hers, and in the manner of eating, drinking, peeing human beings in close proximity, we crossed paths several times a day. It didn't take me long to notice that polite acknowledgement of another human being's existence was not in her social arsenal. When we passed, there was no eye contact, no courtesy nod.

My peers reported similar non-treatment. Melinda acknowledged no one. In fact, women sitting in a bathroom stall could tell when Melinda entered the room, because a "cone of silence" immediately enveloped everyone. The woman was a walking frost warning.

I took it upon myself to force her to acknowledge my existence. I pointedly said "good morning," which went unreturned. I sneezed. No "bless you." I startled her with loud noises. I did pratfalls. One time I held open a door for her and she stood there, staring at her feet, refusing to go through. I'd say that the harder I tried, the harder she resisted, but the cold truth is that I doubt she could have picked me out of a lineup. I never once saw her look at me.

I left that job in abject failure, and soon Melinda left the company altogether to birth a daughter. I figured that was the end of the story.

Six months into my new job, I returned to my old office to visit friends. As I whirled and left, I clobbered Melinda, who, apparently visiting someone herself, had not seen me coming. In that staggering second, as I helped her regain her footing, a miracle happened: she made eye contact. True, it wasn't exactly warm, but I'll take it.

"What's the matter? Didn't you see me?" I chided.

She averted her eyes and walked away.

posted by john at 07:51 AM  •  permalink