Oddly Enough, Emily Post Has Nothing to Say on This Situation

By Barely Legal
Special to the Legal

One of the unique things about working for a large law firm is that you can go weeks, even months without seeing a particular colleague. This is great when you are trying to avoid that creepy co-worker, but not so awesome when you are desperate to accidentally bump into that hot, funny senior associate.

I'm telling you this not as an admission that I did little work this past summer, instead devising failed plan after failed plan to bump into the aforementioned hottie, but as a way of setting the stage for what happened to me one day after work recently.

I was headed to happy hour (and since I was on my way, I was still sober) when I saw a partner from my office standing about 20 feet away. Now, most partners at my office have no idea who I am or what I do for the firm, but since I had worked with this partner a few months back, and we had developed a rapport, he immediately recognized and called out to me.

And since I hadn't seen him since we had worked together but have very fond memories of the experience, it didn't at first register that he was a boss, and instead I thought of him as an old friend. Which is probably why I returned his hug and let him kiss me on the cheek in lieu of a more formal greeting. We then talked, I told him I was on my way to happy hour, and it wasn't until I was walking away that it occurred to me that I don't even greet most old friends with a hug and a kiss. 

So, now, here's my dilemma. What do I do the next time I see him -– as now that I don't want to see him I am sure to see him all the time? (Because that's always how these things go -- it's Murphy's Law.)

Am I expected to hug and kiss him every time I see him? Can we go back to the impersonal handshake? Have we gone too far to start high-fiving?

Should I send him an e-mail explaining that the other night was a mistake and that I really like and respect him and so I think we should just go back to the way things were?  

Or should I simply ignore the situation -- the way I do with all the other relationship mistakes I make -- I hope it (or he) just goes away?

Barely Legal offers humorous monthly musings on what it's really like to work for a law firm. Hint: It's nothing like it is on TV.

Comments

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I am inform that this not as an classes that I did little operate this past summer time, instead creating unsuccessful strategy after unsuccessful strategy to run into this, but as a way of establishing the level for what transpired to me one day after operate lately.