Kudos to Tomdoepker!

You're right Tom - who the heck doesn't know who Condi Rice is?  Even though she has to KNOW that everyone knows who she is, she STILL does what is the "right", appropriate, effective, and KIND thing: she takes the initiative and introduces herself.

THAT is CLASS.

And, since neither you nor I are Cabinet level executives, or Cabinet level Ministers, or  well known pop stars, or a patently famous person, when WE meet others, it would be best if WE stuck out OUR hands, and said, "Hi. Your name here. "  One's "shyness", or one's "reticence", or one's being "not a people person," is not an excuse for avoiding this simple but powerful interpersonal kindness.

If it's good enough for Condi Rice, it's good enough for us.