As I mentioned in the last post, I struggled with feeling “equal” and "grown up" at the Society for Neuroscience conference. Part of it was my inexperience compared to both the publishing staff as well as the scientists, but another big part of it was my age--specifically the fact that the majority of the attendees I saw face-to-face were retirement-aged men. The following is an appropriate illustration of my struggle.
[I am in my hotel, standing in the back corner of the elevator riding up to my room. There are seven other people in the elevator with me, all of them having just entered on the lobby level. Buttons 5, 12, 18, 20, and 23 are lit, and the elevator is rising to let people off.]
MAN 1
Awful lot of people in here.
MAN 2
Yeah, well gotta expect that, with forty thousand people, or however many attended this thing.
[Elevator dings. Two people get off.]
MAN 1
[Looking at me]
You’re all tucked away in that corner back here.
ME
Yeah, I’m getting off last. Trying to stay out of the way.
[Elevator dings. Another person gets off.]
MAN 1
[Looking at the elevator button console.]
You 23?
ME
[Nodding.]
Mmmm hmmm.
[Elevator dings. Doors start to open. MAN 2 moves to get off, then looks over his shoulder at me.]
MAN 2
That’s funny. I would have taken you for eighteen.
Posts
2 comments:
If you can figure out how to not look 18, I am looking for ideas, too.
I don't know how you're accomplishing the look of 18 at the age of 23, when at the age of 5 or 6 you looked the age of 10 or 11.
Post a Comment