"Don't I know you?"

I'm tired of people coming up to me talking that old "Don't I know you?" or "You look so familiar....." I would  understand this if this was Hollywood and paparazzi is all around you snapping pics with the people trying get a look at you but it's not. Most of the time you're just walking through Walmart or waiting for a table at a restaurant when some stranger wants to have a 5 minute conversation with you in hopes that they'll remember where they know you from. Where I live is small, but its not that small and you very well might not know half the people you see.

I can see if this exchange would end with me saying "Naw I don't think I know you....' but 9 times out of 10 it does now. People will begin to ask if I attended different schools I've never heard of, ask where I grew up at, my previous employment history. If that does not ring any bells than they'll resort to asking me if I know people from any of the places I mentioned. "You from St Louis? You know Pookie and Smoke?"

Now don't get me wrong, the attention I've received can be great sometimes but most times I feel awkward. I feel like I'm a unique human being and there is nobody out there like me but I'm constantly being accused of being or reminding someone of someone else. Do I have 101 clones running around? Am I not as different as I think I am? Or on the flip side, am I that awesome that people just want to know me? Is this how celebs feel about their personal space and privacy? I just want to go out and have a great time without being recognized sometimes. That old don't" I know you from somewhere" or you look familiar is becoming too familiar to me.