Even so, I didn't realize just how bad it was until just now, when he introduced himself to me, asking, "Have we met?" When I said we had several times, he asked if I'm a volunteer? I was sitting at my desk at the time, and said that, no, I've been an employee here for 2 1/2 years.
Oddly, I didn't find myself looking for ways to make the conversation less awkward for him, because wow.