When you get old, public appearance becomes less important. When I was in high school and college, I was a chronic over-achiever. I attribute that to my parents socializing me to be the "model minority" as I've written in these pages before.
My parents and extended family reacted to the overt and subtle racism exhibited toward them during and following World War II. They wanted me to forget anything Japanese and assimilate to the dominant culture.
That meant following the American Way and be the best and excel. I was the kid on every page of the yearbook and liked by everyone from the smokers to the smart kids.
My tolerance for all ended up being problematic when the stakes got higher as an adult. When I was in grad school the first time, I was stuck in the 1,000 year Big Thompson Flood in 1976. I lost my car and had to be airlifted out by Chinook helicopter.
After that I thought I was on borrowed time and lived recklessly, compared to my over-achiever past. At the time, using marijuana was a felony. I came close to getting caught for my felonious behavior, but "a miss was as good as a mile."
I still had to put on airs as a responsible over-achiever in Wyoming workplaces. I continued to excel and save the world, but I don't think my white collar criminal behavior was appreciated by the "powers-that-be."
Since I've been in Colorado for the past 30 years, I've worked for myself into elderdom. I nor anyone else cares about illegal behaviors of the past. During COVID, I became a prolific writer and and memorialize my good boy - bad boy conflicts.
— alanohashi
My parents and extended family reacted to the overt and subtle racism exhibited toward them during and following World War II. They wanted me to forget anything Japanese and assimilate to the dominant culture.
That meant following the American Way and be the best and excel. I was the kid on every page of the yearbook and liked by everyone from the smokers to the smart kids.
My tolerance for all ended up being problematic when the stakes got higher as an adult. When I was in grad school the first time, I was stuck in the 1,000 year Big Thompson Flood in 1976. I lost my car and had to be airlifted out by Chinook helicopter.
After that I thought I was on borrowed time and lived recklessly, compared to my over-achiever past. At the time, using marijuana was a felony. I came close to getting caught for my felonious behavior, but "a miss was as good as a mile."
I still had to put on airs as a responsible over-achiever in Wyoming workplaces. I continued to excel and save the world, but I don't think my white collar criminal behavior was appreciated by the "powers-that-be."
Since I've been in Colorado for the past 30 years, I've worked for myself into elderdom. I nor anyone else cares about illegal behaviors of the past. During COVID, I became a prolific writer and and memorialize my good boy - bad boy conflicts.
— alanohashi
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