Nametags

Over the years I've assembled quite a collection of nametags. With each new client I'm forced to pose in front of a large piece of poster board and fake a smile. It's usually red or blue because, depending on the client, one background color or another indicates that you are a consultant. Easy identification of the second class citizens. Most of the time, when the project is finished, I get to keep the nametag. Some clients force me to return them which always disappoints me since it leaves a gap in my collection. It's a history of Steve's glasses in small grainy photos printed on plastic cards. Big glasses, little glasses, thick plastic frames, thin metal frames. I've got a nametag for every occasion. At my current client, the ID card people accidentally added an 'i' to the end of my last name. So, the 'vich' became 'vichi'. Instantly transformed from an Eastern European to a Mediterranean by that little 'i'.  Now when I go to meetings and people see my nametag, they pronounce my last name with that sort of Italian flair where you stress the last syllable and your voice gets higher as you approach the end of the word. It gives me sort of a sophisticated air. I feel like I should grow a mustache or maybe get a Vespa. I hope they let me keep this nametag when the project is over. It has a really nice pair of glasses in the picture.