Eventuality

I knew it. Someday, it would happen. Eventually, this day would come. I tried to avoid this kind of thing, really I did. I've managed to avoid it so far, quite successfully actually.

But yesterday I had an event at the new school that I will be soon attending, and I will admit, when I walked in surrounded by people with entire alphabets after their name, I felt a little out of place. Always one for a challenge, I dove right in and struck up several conversations. It was nice; informative, motivating, and interesting, and I even was able to hold my own. At first.

After a bit, things took a turn and I felt a distinct change in conversation. Were discussing such and such program in Wichita, and I was just little old me. Without an alphabet my little old ideas just didn't have much credibility in that room. So I did it. I actually did it.

I name-dropped. Instant credibility, and all of a sudden my ideas were of value. I didn't make me all that glad, though. While I'm glad that, in the end, the event was a success and I walked away with a lot of information, motivation, and new acquaintances, I wish I had been able to walk away with all that all by myself. I'm also starting to wonder if, even if I have my own alphabet, if I'll ever be able to stand on my own ideas without throwing so-and-so's name or such-and-such program into the conversation.

Sigh. I so hate politicking.