I have prosopagnosia. I only learned what to call it about 5 years ago. But it is not total and complete. I recognize faces when I see someone I know where I have seen them before. But if I see someone I know in a new location I have never seen them, I do not initially recognize them. But as soon as they speak to me, and I hear their voice, suddenly I recognize them. One of my earliest memories when I was in elementary school, first grade, is being with my mother at the Kmart. I was upset because I wanted to go home, and she had this long conversation with someone, seemed like almost an hour, which I found excrutiating. I did not know who she was talking to. When we left, I complained, "who was that person?" My mother gasped, "catmistake! [not my real name] That was your homeroom teacher! You see her every morning in school!" I could not believe it. I knew this woman well. I think I may have been in love with her. Just recently, in a gas station I see this guy shaking hands with someone else, not 6 feet away, full view. He looked interesting, but I didn't know him until he walked up to me, "hey catmistake." It was my friend that I was staying with for the previous two months, knew for 20 years, that I had just seen about a half hour before at his house. It is freaky, going from seeing someone as a complete stranger and then suddenly recognizing them. It is difficult to explain the transition. I had balance problems as a child, and fell down the hardwood stairs on my head nearly every day until I figured out how to lean back when stepping forward. So I think it is permanent brain damage causing it. Doesn't get me down, but I have been abused for it, "friends," that are aware of it, know when to expect it, and screwing with me. Jerks.