Working the front desk at a large company means that I get to talk with all kinds of vendors - from deliverers, caterers, to event set up crews - that may be around for a day, week, or regular occurences.
The carpenter was in for a week assisting with an event set up, and I got to know him a bit. He was from the East Coast and had long, unruly hair, a shaggy beard, and the overall style of a nomad. On his third day there, I passed him in the hall when I was taking a break and invited him to get ice cream. I learned that he was new to the Bay Area and builds adorable tiny houses. On his fifth and last day I gave him my phone number and told him to call me if he ever wanted to meet up...he never called.
The caterer would come in almost every Friday, and we'd chat when he checked in each week. He was clean cut with a simple t-shirt and jeans style. One week he mentioned the neighborhood he lived in, and I told him that one of my favorite restaurants in the city was an Indian place near him. The following week I gave him my number and told him I'd love to go to the Indian restaurant with him. He never called and coincidentally he hasn't been back to cater.
Maybe I won't give my number to people that come into work anymore...maybe.
