First if I want to state that I believe I may have undiagnosed Aspergers. As I've got older I've been able to adapt and cope with things but a lot of the "symptoms" particularly in childhood, all seem to sound like me. It's not massively getting in the way of life now so it's not something I'm going to speak to my doctor and pursue. It's also not something I take lightly and understand that you can't just label people with it so please know I'm not meaning to offend at all.
I've always had issues making friends. People would initially like me at first and then suddenly drop off. I do have some awesome friends but I do struggle a lot, particularly since having my kids. I panic and say dumb things that make me sound like an absolute weirdo. People often don't know how to take me and I have a tendency to blurt out the strangest of things without thinking.
I've recently managed to meet someone in my industry I really, really admire. Someone that I've followed the career of for over a decade and is good friends with other people I admired as well.
We did a telephone interview and it felt like we could have spent all day chatting. They were incredibly warm and reassuring, we're of a similar age, have a lot in common and they are renowned for their open and kind nature.
As we came to a close they gave me their personal contact details and said to please keep in touch, also passed me some details of other people to speak to who I equally respect. They also said about catching up at a later date.
It all seemed a bit too exciting and I'm now panicking, kind of like when someone likes you as a teenager, about coming on too strong. I've sent a follow up with a few work details and mentioned an event later on in the year I know we're both going to and said about maybe catching up for coffee.
I am so pants-wettingly scared though. This person I've admired for so long professionally seems like someone so genuine, but I run the risk of them thinking I'm a weirdo if they meet me again and they've got strong connections within my industry. So if they DO end up thinking I'm a strange person it could really bugger up my career.
Does anybody have any advice of how to nurture this relationship, mainly in a work context without:
A) coming off as cold?
B) coming off as I'm just trying to network?
C) without coming off as some mad woman (a lot of their personal life is in the open so you end up feeling like you "know" someone and being overly familiar)?
D) without gushing over them?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!