DEAR HARRIETTE: I went to an event and saw a lot of people I haven’t seen for a long time. One woman was very friendly, which was nice, but caught me off guard. She is what my mother calls “sometime-y.” Sometimes she knows me, and sometimes she doesn’t. On that day she saw me and thought she would even give me a hug. She is an important person in my social and professional circles, so I appreciated the acknowledgment, but I don’t want to make the mistake of thinking she likes me now -- there have been too many occasions when I was invisible to her. I do think it might be wise for me to make some kind of meaningful follow-up while I’m still on her mind. I don’t have a project right now to talk about, though, so I'm not sure what to say if I reach out to her. What do you think? -- Wanting a Connection
DEAR WANTING A CONNECTION: You already know that this person does not choose to see you all the time. Don’t forget what you know. If you think it’s beneficial for you to have a cordial relationship with her, you can send an email or text -- depending on how you usually communicate with her -- saying it was nice to see her again. Say something about the event, and leave it at that. Don’t ask for anything. Be pleasant and confident. And do not expect anything in return.