Remember that time you enthusiastically waved at your friend but soon realized that they were a complete stranger? What about the time when that incy-wincy pebble tripped you in front of all of your classmates? For some  of us, it feels like these awkward moments come looking for us.

https://nationaltoday.com/awkward-moments-day/

My mom shrieks like a child when she’s startled. Some time back, when cellphones weren’t really common, I caught a glimpse of her unexpectedly at Walmart. Today, I’d just text her and tell her I was in Walmart, too. I was in my 20s, though, and figured I’d sneak up on her hug her for the giggle of her shrieking about it.

Now, I should have had some pause about this and not just because giving your mom a heart attack for the Lulz is kind of rude. For years, my mom has had close friends come up to her and give her crap for not saying hi when they saw her out and about. It always happened when Mom hadn’t been anywhere near where the alleged incident happened and she had an alibi to prove it.

Mom called this mystery doppelganger her evil twin and chalked it up to people not really paying attention when they were out and about. I really didn’t think about it much, other than when people were telling Mom they’d seen her twin again.

I should have been thinking about that.

Just as I was about to pounce, the person in front of me turned just enough that I could see that it wasn’t actually my mom. It was Mom’s doppleganger and I almost bear-hugged them in the middle of Walmart. ?

Happy Awkward Moments Day! May your day be blissfully free of new awkward happenings.