Spokane. October '02. An international skating event was in town. I was staying across the street from the hotel in which the US figure skaters were lodging.
One noontime i was waiting at a deli pickup counter for the sandwich and salad i had ordered for takeout. Ahead of me was a petite, attractive, young Asian-American lady. Her order was called moments before mine.
Walked out through the seating area a few steps behind her. Fellow in a booth looked up ... and "recognized" her. "Kristi ... are you skating tonight? Well, good luck!"
"I'm Michelle ... but thanks," replied Ms. Kwan ... having proven, once again, while being mistaken for fellow skating icon Kristi Yamaguchi ... that All Orientals Look Alike.
postscript. Few days later ... in the airport terminal lounge, my bride chatted up an attractive, very engaging, young couple also headed elsewhere via Chicago. They turned out to be Tenith Belbin and Ben Agosto ... who perhaps are headed for a medal in ice-dancing soon.