Country Mouse
Oooh wee! Today I was a big girl.
Today I was, like, a professional and everything.
I had a rather important work related meeting with some very high level people.
The address of this adventure was simply, One Market, San Francisco.
Now, if you are familiar at all with San Francisco (I know you are, Natalie), then you know that One Market is where the ubiquitous Market (akin to Main street in Any Town, America) meets the Embarcadero at the Ferry Building.
If you are unfamiliar with San Francisco, Market Street is a major avenue that cuts diagonally across the length of San Francisco, ending at the edge of the Bay.
Ends at the very old and beautiful Ferry Building, where, oddly enough, you can catch a ferry. The building is both a beacon and a landmark.
So this morning I put on my best suit of confidence and made my way to the City by the Bay.
I acted like I knew what I was doing the whole time. I drove in, got parked, and walked with my head held high. I heard my high heels click-clack on the polished marble floors and hoped like hell I wouldn’t slip and fall.
I rode the elevator up to the offices and pretended like I was all that ‘n then some.
Once badged up, they led me to a conference room that had a spectacular view of the Bay Bridge.
As I waited for the Vice President of this very successful and well-known company to come to the room, I wondered how this desert rat of a girl ended up here.
I hummed “Oakie from Muskogee” while I waited.
As soon as the executive entered the room, I put away all those thoughts and stopped humming.
Then I acted like a lady, a professional, a woman in command who knows exactly what she’s doing.
Weirdly, they bought it.
The ol’ fake it ’til you make it really does work sometimes.
It was a high point to my week, actually.
But for all my high steppin’ in that beautiful City, I was also glad to get in the car and drive back home.
Once home, I tucked into dinner and a glass of something nice and smiled over the rim of my glass.
I love it when I can use my Aggie ingenuity to pull one over on the big boys.
Comments
Ken
Oh, you ain't so country as you let on.
Congratulations anyway.
Karen Fayeth
Ah Ken, you may have called my hand in the midst of an identity crisis.
I'm the girl who used to work cattle and climb mountains and dance a waltz.
Today I'm the girl who holds her own in a big city conference room.
I fear I'm losing my grip on the girl who knows how to sear a horn that's been clipped too close and curry comb a horse.
Thanks for keeping me honest.
Natalie
The perfect end to that would have been going to the Top of the Mark and having a Martini or Manhattan.
:)
You go, country girl.
Karen Fayeth
Ah Nat, I like how you think!! Too right!!
Thanks.
Teresa Blankmeyer Burke
Congratulations on your moment in the One Market building! Those moments are worth savoring as much as the country moments.
I forget how long you've been in the Bay Area (my ove was the reverse of yours) but any chance you remember when they took down the Embarcadero Fwy (post earthquake) and renovated the Ferry Building? Such a fabulous move for the city!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NINOxRxze9k
Jan
The mystique of San Francisco can be intimidating to all of us.
Karen Fayeth
Teresa – I moved here in 1997, so the crumbling of the freeway is a bit before me.
My husband lived here as a kid (around 10 I think when they moved) and has photos of the Embarcadero freeway from then. The area is SO different with that.
Tho there are days when I'm struggling to get the heck OUT of town. Or really, into town too, that I wish that freeway still existed.
However, when I moved, that whole Embarcadero area and China Basin were NOT places one wanted to wander. Amazing what that ball park did to gentrify the entire area!!
Thanks for the comment and the insight!!
Karen Fayeth
Jan! Thanks for stopping by!! Love your Poodle and Dog blog! One of my faves by far!
Thanks for the comment. Big Cities both complete intrigue me and intimidate the heck out of me.
It's a whole internal battle sort of thing! :)