blog entry

Introductions

I was at a friend’s beachside rehearsal dinner recently, an event where I knew very few people.  At one point in the evening, another guest and I got into a game of trying to figure each other out based on personal appearance.  It was my idea:  I examined his clothes, his hands (calloused fingers would have confirmed my suspicion--which turned out to be wrong--that he was a guitar player), his hairstyle, trying to discern who he is and what he does.  I didn’t get far with my reading of him, and he had an equally hard time with me.

“You’re a teacher,” he finally guessed.

“What grade?” I asked.

“High school?”

“No, college.  So, what subject?”

He examined my fleece pullover, long messy hair, and jeans.  “No idea.”

I glanced down at my Birkenstocks and said, “I’m wearing at least one item of clothing that’s sort of stereotypical for someone in my line of work.”

“Anthropology?” he guessed.

“Nope, but good try.”  I thought about another hint.  “Look--I’m not wearing any make up.”

“That’s because you’re stunningly beautiful!” he said.  I do love tipsy rehearsal dinner guests.

“Yes, that’s partly why,” I agreed, “but there might be a political reason for it, too.”

“A political reason not to wear make up?” he mused.  “OH!  A feminist!  You teach Women’s Studies!”

And to his credit, he wasn’t scared away by this but hung around and found out more.  I hope you’ll do the same.