I can barely remember their names . . . now this!

A writer of some volume, Peter Urs Bender, has provided in today's Globe and Mail, a primer in how to shake hands. Of course I was aware that there was something of an etiquette about it and read many times about the power representations a handshake made. I think we all know about firm handshakes, blah, blah, blah.

I don't know about you, but I have enough trouble when I meet people for the first time just keeping their names in my head long enough past the handshake to be able to refer to them in the first person again during the remainder of the meeting. Now, while I'm focusing on my internal dialogue: "It's Bill . . . rhymes with swill . . . we're going for a drink . . . Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill . . ." I have to consciously consider whether my palm is up, down, or vertical; should I hold on tight, let go early, pump more than three times, less than three times, get the left hand in there somehow. AND, I have do do this without having a strained look on my face.

Screw it, I'm going to hug everyone from now on!