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.
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