Hipsters

Once in a while I'll run into someone I knew from way back when. Or rather, the person notices me as I obliviously go about my business.

X: "Teresa ______."

For some reason it's always my full name, and muttered apathetically.

Me: "Oh, hey! It's been a while! How are you?"

I'm pleasantly surprised; glad to see an old face in ironically retro, yet trendy clothes.

X: (paraphrased) "It's whatever, and I'm saying it in way that conveys I'm not the least bit excited to see you, so please get out of my face as if I wasn't the one who initiated this conversation."

And then I say some random pleasantry to end this weird interaction, to which the person shrugs off, and I move on, not exactly sure what just happened. My main question, after laughing off the absurdity, is why even bother getting my attention?

This has happened to me a few times now. As far as I'm concerned, they're acquaintances I used to know, incubating in their cocoons, until the 2010s rolled around and they emerged as full-on, too-cool-for-school hipsters. I'm sure living in this city probably exacerbated the whole life cycle.

Maybe part of the problem is that I am not fluent in hipster. What do I need to do in these events? Tone down the enthusiasm? Don't smile?

X: "Teresa ______."

Me: "Oh. Hey." Roll my eyes for good measure, through my Urban Outfitters-approved glasses, looking down at my arbitrary Apple product.

And then...

It'll probably proceed the same exact way. Mayyyybe I'll get invited to some hipster gathering, where I'll have to maintain absolute apathy while drinking PBR. I think I'm good.

So be my dorky, easily excitable self it is. :)