thoughts on coworkers

Yesterday I saw coworkers outside of work two different times. Why is that always so awkward? One of the sightings happened in Herrin Walmart. Our conversation went like this. "I didn't know you live in Herrin." "Yeah. Do you live in Herrin?" "Yeah...Well, see ya." "See ya." How is it that at work you have plenty to talk about and in the world that exists outside the workplace you are worse than strangers; strangers have livelier conversations than that.
I think the next time I run into a coworker outside of work, I am going to have a little fun with it. Maybe I'll act suspicious and secretive, like I'm doing something I shouldn't. You know, just to see if any rumors surface. Or perhaps, I'll go the obnoxious route, clapping my hands and announcing, "It's John Doe, everybody. John Doe is here." Maybe I'll even start a store wide round of applause. But, I think the most fun thing to do is be intentionally creepy. I'll go up to them and say emphatically, "It's SO good to see you." Then, I'll give them a big hug, and linger. I can look through their cart. "Whatcha got there? I see someone's having problems staying regular." Then, maybe, I'll just continue to follow them through the store humming the Police's "Every Breath You Take".
Most likely, though, I'll just awkwardly say hello and go on my way. I suppose that as long as coworkers have existed this has been a problem. I bet even in cave man times this was a problem. After a hard day of clubbing dinosaurs together, the cave men would run into each other outside of the stomping grounds and hem and haw in cave man talk, avoiding eye contact, until one of them cme up with an excuse to leave.
Perhaps someday we will live in a world where coworkers can coexist outside of work and have wonderful conversations...or maybe it will always be awkward.