wie bent gij en wa doet gij

"I am the mother of a developmentally delayed daughter, Leslie. I am married, and live with my daughter and husband, Walter, in ******, Georgia." How would you define who you are in two lines? Who or what are you going to include in this concise description? People need and want to be able to make an outline of themselves. Either the outside world asks them to do so in order to make an introduction, or they simply need a summary of the self as a way of rooting, taking a clear position in the world. Just as we cannot walk around without identity cards, we cannot go through life undefined. No one is able to remain a complete blank. First of all, because we cannot avoid or escape building up a certain curriculum of references - even a one-minute-old has them: parents X and Y and its place of birth, second, because for most of us there is an instinctive need to cosily curl up in the lap of society. It is interesting to look at the possible choices for composing this personal abstract. Some, as in the above example, do this by means of relatives and home town, while others will use their jobs or flourishing careers and mention the company they work for. Which leads me to a subject I've been meaning to write a little word about.

Junior Product Specialist
Associate Consultant
Master International Business Economics and Management
Sales Manager Benelux

Namely, that more and more of the people I used to go to school with are now clear-cut products of a world dominated by companies. The above four are people of my age and this is something my innocent mind is not quite able to grasp - insert mental image of little man in a small room running to and fro in a desperate manner, thereby constantly crashing into the walls, exclaiming "WHY, WHY, WHY". I'm not delving into the explanation of why this is so hard for me to understand, let the job titles (note the widespread use of English for more credibility!) speak for themselves. And PS, what the hell is a Services Delivery Manager? My guess: someone that rotates around his own axis all day? A delivery guy, like, I order a service and he brings it to my door in a flat cardboard box? Titles can be so absurd. Where have all the milkmen gone? I suppose they've all received a laptop, a mobile phone and a company car and went for it. As for myself, sometimes I would just like to respond that I am "Evelien, I live, and have been doing so for the past 25 years - occasionally enjoying it", especially since I hate being asked what I do for a living; I prefer not to be identified with my source of income. However, I too was born with an instinct that makes me make use of any given opportunity that comes along to subconsciously mark my territory, f. ex. I am a vegetarian, id est, meat eaters, abstain! Up until not very long ago I used to tell people I was an artist, but I've adapted my virtual visiting card and wiped that word off of it, instead simply naming some of the activities that I happen to be occupied with. (Of course when you look to the left, you will see that I'm not being entirely honest.) Which is more truthful: I sometimes play music, which may from time to time lead to the birth of an actual song. I am on the path to Naturopath, now, who knows perhaps I will quit at some point? And I do not work for a company - at least, that is what I tell myself each day before rushing out to the metro station to get to my reception at 8 o' clock prompt for half a day's profitable slavery. Whahey, have you also noticed it's Saturday? Time for breakfast!