Episode 123: Dumb Questions #2

I was dressed to the nines in a silk skirt, shirt and jacket. In downtown Washington D.C., I was on my way to an "informational interview," one of the more humiliating aspects of a job search. It entailed calling a stranger, or a friend of a friend, extracting an appointment with them and trying to convince them to pass on the names of some of their contacts. So I could do the same to them.

I'd been looking for a long time, hence the reason I was going to the American Pharmaceutical Association, a place I wouldn't ordinarily approach. As I was pondering this, I tripped over a raised sidewalk, flew across the grass and landed in a thorn bush.

Several people came to pull me out of it. My stockings were badly torn and my legs were bleeding. A few bleeding cuts were on my face. Miraculously my all-silk outfit was not torn. But I was mess otherwise.

Nope, I wasn't aware.

I pulled myself together as well as I could and managed to get to the association on time. I found the right floor and presented myself to the receptionist. As I was about to ask where the ladies room was so I could clean up a bit, she looked at me in disdain and asked:

"Are you aware you have a branch in your hair?"

Yes, I was just in Paris and this is the latest look! You should check it out.

This was the beginning of a bad afternoon and I was grateful when I was able to leave, no contacts in hand, and go home.