Today I was sitting in yet another interminable meeting on yet another tax issue. Since it was right after lunch and I’d had no coffee or sodas, I started to phase out. My mind started to wander…
… “What am I doing here? I know the least of anyone at this table – when am I going to find a job where I’m on a level playing field with everyone I work with?”…
… “Manager Chick always has the nicest jewelry… I wonder how much she paid for that set? I bet it’s Ann Taylor or something… I could have made it for a quarter of the cost…”
… “Must study for the GRE! Must work out! Must…not…eat…that…donut…”
… “Glamour Girl’s earrings don’t match… Is that supposed to be that way? Is that the fashion now? Am I behind? Oh no! I’m too old to know what’s trendy anymore! Should I mix and match my earrings too? At least I could use the ones that I’ve lost the mate to… Nah. I like symmetry and she probably just dressed in the dark…”
… “I wonder what it would be like to go to work every day and be happy. I like seeing these people’s faces – they’re very nice – but they’re not my friends like at my last company. I miss my friends so much! I should try harder to stay in touch!”…
… “I need to get ready for Christmas! What do you get the people who have everything?? Oh no! Do they exchange gifts here? Do I need something for my new coworkers? Good thing I can make everything I ever wanted to…”
My mind wanders more quickly than I like – I think random thoughts, plan outfits, make lists in my head. To reign in, I draw elaborate paisleys in the margins of my notepad. Today, the random thoughts wouldn’t be contained! Focus was not to be grasped! I finally gave up and lost myself to daydreaming with this gem…
… “I wonder what my coworkers would look like in period clothing? What era? My nice manager – I see her in Italian renaissance silks… the sweet new girl…hmm…she’s a living Waterhouse painting…so…something medieval… Glamour Girl…she HAS to be something Spanish from the 1540’s – rigid, painful, yet intimidatingly pretty… New man-boss…nothing works for him. Can’t picture anything for him. Maybe something stereotypically evil. Yeah, that works. Menacing and evil…but with pointy curly toe shoes. Yeah. That’s it. Mean…but…not. Yeah…”
Yeah. Weird. Think it can’t get worse? Ha! I say! Not only do I picture what period attire best fits for everyone I know (if you’re reading this, I’ve thought it about you, too – my readership’s not that large!), I also picture what animal they might be. So my loyal readers, be ye ducks, otters, meerkats or potbelly pigs, I bid you adieu. Confession time’s over – it’s time to go home!
