Shock greeted my brain while big uncertainty was writ large over this man’s face. It must have been the crazy look in my eyes as I came to an abrupt stop on my way to the ATM at this gas station and stared at him. Without saying a word, I pulled out my phone and frantically searched for something while looking up at him and then back to my phone. He looked worried as my smiles didn’t seem to allay his anxiety that I might be crazy. If you knew the location of this gas station you’d understand the distinct possibility that a man looking at him wild-eyed was indeed insane.

I found what I was looking for and at that point, I told this “stranger” that I knew him. He was certain we hadn’t met before. So, I turned my phone around and showed him a photo of him I had taken 12 years ago. I explained that I had snapped the photo at Indo-Euro Foods where he used to rent videos and surprise overtook his face along with a big smile. That old photo can be seen here, just click somewhere near this.

This is Rafi, originally from Afghanistan. He is now married and has two kids. Just as he was a dozen years ago, this is one of the happiest people I’ve ever had the good fortune to run into. I’ll have to stop in from time to time to say hi.