Business has certainly changed over the
years. Apparel is one, rather glaring
manifestation of this. I work with
companies, helping them to conduct business.
I teach in a business school. But
I rarely ever need to wear a suit. These
days it’s only when I go to Japan. Maybe
Korea. And even there, it is not
necessary to wear a tie. But today I
will. My little girl is graduating from
high school and they have provided a dress code.
My wife said we
were to leave at 1:30PM to get there at 2:00PM.
Its’s a five-minute drive but OK. I’m ready.
The suit’s ready. I’ve chosen a
tie. Neither of us are usually very
punctual. We shouldn’t be late today. We
take a Di Di over so as not to have to mess with parking and soon we’re making
our way across the campus along the way I usually take to go to the gym, past
the people playing baseball and soccer.
There’s a
line. I take my place about twenty
people back from the entrance. My
daughter goes to sit on the stairs with a friend. When my son joins us, he goes to sit with her
as well. My wife seems to know everyone, and we pass the time quickly as I am
introduced to one person after another. When
we’re finally let in, we are able to get seats in the front row, just down to
the left. Serendipitously the photo of
my daughter getting a haircut on 29th St. off Mission St. when she
was four or so, is up there on the screen.
It’s replaced by one from when we were climbing the Sistine Chapel and
then one with her in a graduation gown and cap.
We caught the rotation just as it had reached the F’s.
By 3:30PM I have
seen those photos of my daughter and all the other members of the graduating
class, about seven times. My daughter’s
friend is sitting with us and I ask them both why we came at 2:00PM if the
ceremony didn’t start till 3:30PM. Wife’s
orders. My son has struck up a
conversation with a nearby father who has a thick Cantonese accent. They are talking business and it is too far
away for me to join. Finally, the teachers take the stage. There are two gents I have only ever seen in
shorts and tee-shirts at the gym up there, looking sharp in suits and
ties. And then, in pairs, the class of 2019 makes
their way past us, up on to the stage and into their seats. Finally, my little girl passes by and I snap
as many photos as I can.
Saturday, 5/25/19
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