Humble Pie

I've never thought of myself as stuck up. If anything I think I'm the opposite.  Funny how we delude ourselves sometimes.  I really do care, apparently a great deal more than I would have thought, about social status.  I find myself in a job, that allows me to tread water till I get a better job.  My boss is a friend and knew that I needed some kind of income in the worst way.  There was an opening, and I was offered the job.

Its a job that requires me to wear a name tag, and serve the public.  I haven't had a job that required a name tag since I was 19.  I hate the name tag.  Not that I'm ashamed of my name, I just would rather not wear it.  Its a requirement, and I like being among the 65% of Americans with a job rather than the 35% without one. 

I serve the public.  I wear the tag.  Except yesterday I took it off.  One of our senators came in to do business with us.  I knew he was coming and I was the only person available to take care of him.  I've met him before.  We've worked on projects together when I was actively consulting.  I didn't want him to remember me, because frankly I'd like to be working on those kinds of projects and doing that kind of work more than wearing a name tag.

I waited on him.  We made small talk.  I didn't take the bait when he asked me about politics. I did and said nothing in hope he wouldn't remember me.  He looked at me like he recognized me but he couldn't remember from where.  Then he left.  A few minutes latter he came back in because he forgot something.  I took care of it for him.  He thanked me using my full name.  He remembered me, but was enough of a gentleman not to ask any questions.

I'm really not ashamed of doing honest work.  Even when the pay is low.  Its better than not working at all.  After 3 full years of under employment and having a baby, my savings is almost tapped.  Frankly I haven't done a government contract since 2003.  Apparently I miss playing a big shot.