It's not bad to fantasize.  It's bad to really want it too happen.  I would never look in the direction of a "friend".  That's just me.  It's not real life. Sad but true.

And it can be a startling experience. I also imagine that it can be startling for the lady as well, not quite knowing what, if anything, the guy will do or say. It only happened to me once, at a restaurant. There was just a little smile, as she walked past me, and I was able to keep that huge devilish smile on the inside. It did put a bit of a spring in my step for the rest of the day.

while I'm out with friends, so they'll go  "Was that...?"  and I'll go, "Oh yeah."    

Wishful thinking.............le sigh.

I was at a restaurant with my mother, and my three sisters.  I was walking out and low and behold there she is with a few of her girls friends.

I really would have introduced her but I stop in my track and thought I do not know her really name and I wondered if her friends knew.

The next time I say her we laughed about it.  She said her friend said did you see how that guy stared at you.  

It does happen.

First and foremost, I personally will never acknowledge anyone I've ever worked with in the past even if we both appear to be "alone".  I made that mistake once when I saw a fellow provider Downtown and started saying "Hey SO-AND-SO! It's me! Charlotte." from mere steps away on Nicollet Mall by Chipolte. Once I realized she was with someone, I stopped and said, "oh I'm sorry, I had you confused with someone." to try and not blow her cover.  Luckily, she was with someone who knew her "side work" and we had a small chuckle about it later even though at that moment I realized, even when seeing my lady friends in public, even if I know their REAL NAME, I will NEVER even acknowledge them for everyones discretion.

Next, since I work a corporate job as well (which is no real sectret), I have had a fellow "higher up" in the company pay me a visit, although he had no idea who I was (he was my boss' boss' boss sort of thing).  I didn't bother letting him know who I was for he would probably never meet me in the office setting.

Once I had a guy I use to date in college visit me: probably the most awkward of the above as he then assumed that since we had been on three non-sexual dates (keep in mind neither of us are from here which made it even more ironic), that there should be no "gift amount" involved.  What a silly gent...

Otherwise I've ran into 2 different lawyers whom I've worked with out and about in the city but niether of them noticed me and I just told them about it later.

It happens a lot.  I have had people see me at the State Fair before and kindly, not proceeded to say anything to me.  I had one gent on a plane with me that I had no idea until he emailed me once we landed.  It's not a very big city, after all.

So as far as I'm concerned, not that I don't WANT to say hello to you in public or visa verse, I will NEVER acknoledge you and I respectfully ask the same.  Sent me a silly email or give me a call later to tell me about it but please oh please, don't do like I did my first time and start saying, "HEY CHARLOTTE! It's me, John, your bff who likes to get nekkid with you sometimes!" LOL.  

Just my $0.02 because I don't want to have to walk around like this everytime I go out in public and you shouldn't have to either....