I guess they actually do remember you.

So we've all heard the ubiquitous "I remember you" when travelling to the island. To me, it's always been good customer service, and a way to make the buyer (me) feel a little more special, or maybe to spend a few more dollars. Either way, don't care, just always kind of laughed to myself about it.

Well, I was wrong. Lots of these people have damn good memories of who I am, and I got a case in point yesterday.

Last year, we bought a red velvet cake from Miss Connie at the country western bar (I'm told it was delicious, I don't care for red velvet). As it was not finished until the last day, and she was closed on our way to the airport, our regular driver said he would drop it off. Apparently, he forgot.

When we walked into Miss Connies place to buy banana cake and a chocolate cake this year, she said "I remember you... (I'm thinking, sure you do...) you had red velvet cake last year and did not bring back my plate!

Uh-oh.

She was extemely good natured about it, and my friend paid extra to cover the cost of the plate when ordering the cake this year. To be honest, I did not feel that was sufficient, and needed to do just a little more.

I had our taxi driver (not our usual guy, as I knew he was doing an airport run) stop at value master today, and I bought her six new plates :). When we dropped them off, I even got a marriage proposal! Cake still wasn't ready, as this is after all, Jamaica time. Miss Connie apparently was pleased enough with the plates that I was considered husband material, if only for a moment or two.

Maybe two hours later, our regular driver shows up unannounced at the front desk, and we were told he was there. He had picked up the cake, and bought Miss Connie another three plates while at mega-mart today. Additionally, he made and brougt my wife a warm from the oven banana cake!

I'm never taking the "I remember you" for granted again, as apparently as quiet as we are, people do in fact remember us.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hussyband

So we've all heard the ubiquitous "I remember you" when travelling to the island. To me, it's always been good customer service, and a way to make the buyer (me) feel a little more special, or maybe to spend a few more dollars. Either way, don't care, just always kind of laughed to myself about it.

Well, I was wrong. Lots of these people have damn good memories of who I am, and I got a case in point yesterday.

Last year, we bought a red velvet cake from Miss Connie at the country western bar (I'm told it was delicious, I don't care for red velvet). As it was not finished until the last day, and she was closed on our way to the airport, our regular driver said he would drop it off. Apparently, he forgot.

When we walked into Miss Connies place to buy banana cake and a chocolate cake this year, she said "I remember you... (I'm thinking, sure you do...) you had red velvet cake last year and did not bring back my plate!

Uh-oh.

She was extemely good natured about it, and my friend paid extra to cover the cost of the plate when ordering the cake this year. To be honest, I did not feel that was sufficient, and needed to do just a little more.

I had our taxi driver (not our usual guy, as I knew he was doing an airport run) stop at value master today, and I bought her six new plates :). When we dropped them off, I even got a marriage proposal! Cake still wasn't ready, as this is after all, Jamaica time. Miss Connie apparently was pleased enough with the plates that I was considered husband material, if only for a moment or two.

Maybe two hours later, our regular driver shows up unannounced at the front desk, and we were told he was there. He had picked up the cake, and bought Miss Connie another three plates while at mega-mart today. Additionally, he made and brougt my wife a warm from the oven banana cake!

I'm never taking the "I remember you" for granted again, as apparently as quiet as we are, people do in fact remember us.

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What a great story! I have Rasta friend along the White River in the Ochi area...he had moved on (I was told he went to Kingston). 3 years passed and this last fall, I was in the area...still thinking my friend was gone. I walked from the river out into the ocean...keep in mind my my back was to the river and all of a sudden I hear my name. I look back at my husband along the beach and he shrugs....I look toward the river and there was my friend! We all spent several days together laughing and relaxing.

I agree, I always thought it was a ploy to get better tips. They meet so many tourists, they can't possibly remember. One year, a lady at a vendor table, near Margaritaville, said "hey you're back, I remember you". No, you dont. We normally stay at Rooms, way down the beach. I just laughed. She says, I used to sell down there, I can prove it. "you have mole on your lower leg". Sure enough, I do. I was amazed.

My latest ploy is to give them grief if they ask if it's my first time, I act all offended then laugh.

I get the "I remember you" often as we walk the beach. I tend to believe them because the tattoos on my back are pretty memorable to a Jamaican. One is the island of Jamaica with flag in middle with three little birds sitting on top. One is a Dr bird eating from lignum vitae (national bird and national flower) and the last is an amazing portrait tattoo of Bob Marley.

If they say it to me when I have my shirt on I am skeptical. Ha!

The question is.........Can you remember him/her?

My response is "how you know me?'

Cap

Nice story...fun thread, Hussyband!
It's VERY true that you can be remembered even after years...it's often not the hustle that many think.
But...on occasion...we'll be walking the beach and approached by someone (new in town) selling something.
They'll generally start by welcoming us to Jamaica and in the near distance we more often than not, hear some laughter. We wait for the "sales pitch", then one of us asks, "so, when did you come to Negril?"
The laughter in the distance becomes more audible and someone will generally yell in loud laughter, "they live here mon". You've got to love the Jamaican sense of humour!!

I looked eerily similar to my sister (RIP) who had been traveling to Negril at least 3-4 times a year since the mid '80's.....people on the beach would always think I was her and would get upset if I didn't respond acknowledge them or let them know that "I was coming here" and then not accept the explanation that I was not who they thought I was.

1993 my Ex and I are staying at Sandals Negril, we became close with the young lady on the entertainment staff. Fast forward 15 years, I'm divorced a few years and walking down the beach not far from Alfred's. A women calls out, " I know you", I'm thinking "here we go again". She see's my expression and says " no really, I remember you and your wife from Sandals in the early 1990's". I said "you got to be kidding me???"What was the name of my wife?" She says "Laura", she must have noticed the shocked look on my face! We chatted for a few minutes and she was glad that I remembered her and I was stunned she remembered me. After all I wasn't as thin as I was back in the early 90's!!!! Only in Negril!!!!

It always amazed me when i took my morning walk on the beach and would be far from where we stayed and hear vendors and people who worked in other hotels say hey oldtimer and tell me they remembered me when i didnt or barely knew or remembered them. I would almost always test them and ask them how they knew me or where i stayed and almost everytime they truely did remember me. I guess when you make a living off tourists its easy to remember people

Last year I got stopped on the beach and the guy said, I remember you, is this your first time here?

The ones I like are those who notice your wrist band and say " hey remember me? I work at the bar at _____resort

Fun thread... another one that I have gotten a lot in negril... especially at night at Bourbon or whatever other venue... "ya mon, it's my birthday. Can you get me a drink?" After I say the obligatory "happy birthday" I follow up with " what's today's date?" This usually stumps the "birthday boy"...,,

We decided to have dinner with Connie last night... she served our food on the very plates we brought, and made sure we knew about it.

Some of the best memories in my life are made from the silliest and most innocuous moments.

In 2007 our son was bitten by one of the nasty dogs at the lighthouse. A rasta lady across the street saw the whole thing and got something to clean the bite and they put aloe on it. Fast forward about 5 years and Janet and I were heading out of 3 Dives after dark and a fellow said "I remember you". "Oh yeah? Where from?" "You son was bit by the dogs at the lighthouse." We had a good laugh together, a fist bump, and were on our way.
This trip we stopped at Hammonds Bakery and Avis Hammond said: "I remember you. We made a cake you your daughters wedding with purple flowers. It was at Blue Cave." I said that was correct and that it was 5 and a half years ago.
Regards,
Bob

I love this thread! Great stories... great memories. I'm terrible at names, but I'm pretty good at remembering faces. It made me feel great when people we came across on our trip in October remembered us from our visit in February. Super friendly people with wonderful memories- how can they remember everyone?

Good story!, It must be the "ginger root" that keeps the memory sharp.

Could be the Overproof or ganja Navvet, you know that it's good for everything??¿¿

Have had many like responses over the years, have given away many things but our friends there never ask, as they say do onto others & the respect is returned . Everyone leaves some type of memory behind, hopefully more good than bad & yes some have great memories & take this as a sign of respect that you left them with a piece of you to remember

Ever amazed at people's memories - from customs at MBJ, to the HiLo and all through Negril. Sometimes amaze myself even when I remember people, their names and stories - these get a bit more lost in the clutter of my usual urban tangle.

Memories are not limited to tourists. 22 years ago with our 5 yo and 1 yo at the Poinciana dropoff I left camera case with cash in it in a white tag ride we picked up. Next day I asked the guard in duty about it - he told me the driver's name and where he lived 'A coolie, Nelson, from Sav'. That was enough info for me and a friend to find his house if Sav, get thrown out of his yard by his wife, "Mi Nelson nevah do such a ting!" and then confirm 100% that is was Nelson that had my stuff - no last names required still! My bad totally - a bit distracted by the kids - but my bad - worst hurt was my 5 yo whose little camera was also in the case - he was documenting everything!

Long story, but if anyone sees my Fujika SLR with 200mm lens and a little Nikon in a blue soft case, let me know!

....jamaicans remember faces,places and stories.... not so many ..remember names

On our first trip to Negril in '84, a young guy on the beach walked up to me and said "good to see you again Mon......but you got skinny!" I told him it was our first trip - just another tall american with a mustache, but skinnier than your average dude. Next year, he recognized me and said - I remember you this time. And he continues to.....

What cracks me up is that the local beach vendors seem to know when we're coming every year. Within 1/2 hour, my usual vendors - the few that I buy something from every year - seem to be looking for me when I arrive. Seems like more than a coincidence. May be "inside" information!

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Originally Posted by sabu

What cracks me up is that the local beach vendors seem to know when we're coming every year. Within 1/2 hour, my usual vendors - the few that I buy something from every year - seem to be looking for me when I arrive. Seems like more than a coincidence. May be "inside" information!

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You dont even get that kind of service at a Trump hotel!

My husband and I used to be remembered. he was 6' tall and I was 4'10", so we stood out. I often wore a big T-shirt that had one of those Kliban cats walking a dog on a leash on it and the beach guys always thought that shirt was hilarious. Oh they knew us all right.