DEAR MISS MANNERS: I recently attended a dinner party where one of the other guests was someone whom I had met once, several years ago, and hadn't seen since. At that time, we were part of a large group visiting a park. Apparently she and I spent an hour or two walking around together and talking.
To be honest, I had no recollection of this event. She asked if I remembered, and seemed somewhat surprised and offended when I said I didn't.
After the dinner, a family member told me that I should've just nodded and said, "Oh yes, I remember, what a pleasant afternoon," or something like that. I was worried that I would be caught out in a lie -- I'm not a good liar -- and just confessed that I didn't remember. What do you think I should have done?
GENTLE READER: Certainly not asserted something that would quickly be revealed as untrue.
Taking serious offense when someone fails to remember you requires there to have been enough contact that a reasonable person would remember -- multiple introductions, for example, or having been married.
A single, long-ago conversation, even one of several hours, does not seem to qualify. However, Miss Manners cautions you to remember that neither is it a compliment to be forgotten. What your response lacked was an apology for forgetting, followed by a friendly change of subject.