What do you do for a living?

"What dooooo youuuuuu dooooo for a living?"

Parent - teacher conferences at Carla's school this past week provided the backdrop for one of my most favorite sports, people watching.  Parents had to wait on the average of ten minutes to see each of the seven different teachers their students have, so this allowed ample time for my imagination to speculate, play and wonder.

Two sets of parents held special intrigue for me.  One dad in his mid thirties and of average weight, had 1970's long hair and was wearing wire rim glasses, a tee shirt, jean shorts and tennis shoes.  The mom, about the same age and a bit overweight, was wearing a blouse and pants that came just below her knees.  We used to call them clamdiggers.  I'm not sure what you call them today. 

The business world frowns upon men who wear their hair the same length that our country's forefathers wore theirs.  So when I see a guy who has long hair, I ask myself "what do you do for a living?"   Yes I'll admit the question is asked with longing and a twinge of jealousy.   It is also asked in the spirit of freedom; "what path have you had to take to personal freedom?"

The other set of parents oozed money.  The dad in his late thirties, wore an open necked-long sleeve shirt, dress slacks and shoes that had to cost over eight-hundred dollars.  He was perfectly manicured, groomed and tanned.  His wife of about the same age, was either wearing jeans and a psychedelic top or had them painted on.  Her body had to cost one-hundred grand.  Even the teenage girls were staring in envy.  Knowing that this woman had to be occupied all day with physical trainers, exercise, hair stylists, tanning, nutritionists and manicurists, leaving no time to work, I had to wonder of the dad, "what do you do for a living?"

So what is my fascination with what folks do for a living?  I suppose it's like my imagination trying on a pair of jeans and looking into a mirror.  For the sake of accuracy, I almost never try jeans on.  Hmmm, I wonder if that has been my problem?

Comments

[Rosa Say]

I love reading these snapshots of your life Dave!

I'm also going to think twice about how I dress for the airport today ...