Let your eyes fall, let your beard sprout. It will make a big difference for the party.

A woman walked up to you, asked “Have we met before?”

You know you haven’t met her before, you’re almost sure. But you don’t want to disappoint her so you’ll say, “Maybe…did you ever live Pennsylvania? Were you ever in the Peace Corps? Did you ever see Staten Island during the Moscow revolution?” Okay, this last part is totally made up, fueled by your self-consciousness, which is fueled by her stare.

Which accomplishes two things: it let’s her know you are trying. And it let’s you know you want to know her. You want to have met before. Because back then is always such a safer place to be than now, when you know nothing of her.