Identity Crisis

Ever since I was young I've had a special thing for ties. When I was 16 the Elders in our ward gave me two giant trash bags full of ties!! It was over 300 ties!! This simply caused this special thing I have for ties to augment. I never wore the same tie twice for years. Serving a mission to Japan where you can buy really cool ties for just $1 was heaven. It was the only item of a missionaries' outfit that could change. One's identity could be found in the tie. If you had cool ties your identity was cool. If you had lame-o ties, YOU were lame-o. 

I was no lame-o.

So you see I like ties. Now I get a monthly Asian tie from Meg who's in Taiwan right now. Let me embellish: really incredibly awesome Asian ties that have made all other ties I own seem second-rate. And remember, I wore no lame-o ties. That's how cool these Asian ties from Meg are. 

So. I was quite happy to know that I would be interning for an Asian-based organization. It gave me clear and direct permission and what I thought was blatant encouragement to wear these incredible expressions of my identity. So you can imagine the horror I experienced when my supervisor began telling me how ridiculous my ties were. How un-Washington they were. I responded that I knew they weren't DC-ties.. they were Asian ties!! I work for ASIA Policy Point!! She was not amused and threatened me by saying she was on the verge of taking me across the street to Brooks Brothers to buy me reasonably DC-looking ties.

Shot through the heart. Internal bleeding. Trying to breathe in Space.. No. Worse than even that.. my identity was squished. And just when I thought I was adjusting to and understanding DC..

Now. Just because she was the first and only person to ever insult one, okay or all, of my ties does not mean that I am beaten. No no. Remember I've experienced on two separate occasions to date 2 side-walk singers begin to sing about my tie as I walk by. It has served as means for inspiration to others as well as to myself in the DC area.

But. Being the innovative and entrepreneurial opportunity seeker that I am I have found the loop hole to the gross slanderings issued towards my identi.. I mean towards my ties: She's willing to buy me more ties since she doesn't like the one I currently own and wear. :) 

Operation 'Identity Boost': 

Action: Cease wearing the conservative Asian ties I've been wearing and bring out the big guns: the loud boisterous ties I haven't even worn yet.

Result: Enjoy an afternoon of shopping at Brooks Brothers for brand new ties to add to my collection, at no cost to me and at the approval of my supervisor. 

All players in the market benefit and prosper thereby. :)

I do believe I am beginning to get the hang of this DC thing.. ;)