One thing I'll never get used to about it after 30 years in Chicago is being recognized by people I've never met. I was in line today at the grocery store and stood aside to let a guy in his 60s push what looked to be either his mother or Moses's kid sister by in a wheelchair. He paused and looked at me: "You're a Brown, aren't you?" "Um, yes." "I thought so. Tell your brother that Ollie said hi." "Yes, sir."
No idea how he did that. My brother and I don't resemble each other strongly. We know that because we once took a class together and for the entire year no one realized we were related until the last week of school when I asked if he needed a ride home and someone overhead us. And I've been gone 30 years - I've had numerous conversations with people 40 and younger who didn't realize there
was another Brown until they saw me.
I miss big city anonymity.
