Excuse Me, Have We Met?

Something strange happened yesterday and the strangeness only just hit me.

First, let’s go back a few days when the bulb in the overhead light in my bedroom burned out. Okay, that was really more than a few days ago. Probably a week ago, but I kept forgetting about it until the sun went down and nothing would happen when I tried to turn my bedroom light. I finally remembered I needed to change the bulb, so I got on a chair, removed the light cover*, and discovered the bulb is small with a tiny base, one I’ve never seen before. I mentioned it to the apartment manager and he said I should put a maintenance request in through the apartment website, so I did. A few days ago.

Yesterday, I actually left my place for a bit to run some errands. I got home and was walking to my building when the maintenance man called out to me and said, “I was just about to come see you. You need a light bulb replaced, right? Can you show me?” He followed me up to my apartment and as we walked, he said he’s seen me out on my daily walks around the apartment complex. I explained that since I’ve been working from home, I’ve needed to get out and get some exercise and fresh air at least once a day so I don’t go too stir crazy.

When walked into my apartment, I said I wanted to be careful of my cat getting out. “Oh, don’t worry,” he said, “I’m used to him. He won’t get out.” Oberon came up to him to say hi like he does to anyone who comes into the apartment and followed us to the bedroom as I showed the maintenance man the bulb and light socket. He said it was an unusual one and he’d need to check to see if they had any bulbs, and if not he would order some. Okay, cool.

So here’s the strange part: I’ve never put in a maintenance request in before. (One of the reasons why I like living here. The apartments may not be sleek and modern or stylishly old, but they’re functional and I’ve never needed anything fixed or replaced until this unusual bulb burned out.) So having never needed or interacted with the maintenance man before,

1) How did he know which apartment I live in just seeing me walk across the parking lot?

2) Why is he “used to” my cat and sure he won’t try to get out of the apartment?

I’m not particularly creeped out or bothered, but still, I’m puzzled.

* I was sure there would be a more technical or stylish name for this, but from what I can tell on Google, it’s just called a light cover. I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed. I might need to come up with a fancier name and try to get other people to use it.