my non-recognition policy

   
     I recently took on a volunteer post in my son's school play .  As I became bogged down with the work, I was still glad to have done it, not only because it eased a burden of guilt for not contributing more, but because I was meeting other parents.  I made an effort to learn names, and when I actually saw the parents involved (most of this work was done via e-mail) I tried to link the face with the name.
     Well, on the final night of the show a woman says "Hi" to me, and I look right at her, study the face briefly as one does; I know that I should recognize her and search the old data bank;  then I say, "Sandra, right?"  She looked upset and reminded me that her name was "Carolyn"* - My friend and neighbor J who had come with me, also corrected me with a practically shocked expression...
     Now, I know people make mistakes with names all the time, but here's how BAD this one was... Carolyn is somebody I had interacted with for years, albeit only very occasionally.  What's more, she has a hair lip (not a bad one - she's perfectly nice looking, but it's not a face that anyone with social skills can mistake).  So, in case there was still any doubt...

* As usual, all names are changed to protect the innocent.