Size Does Matter

Tuesday night I was invited to a Departmental party for the group I am supporting in Tokyo and I came to the startling realization that I am one big mofo.
Now, you might be asking “he’s just figuring this out now?!”
Allow me to explain.
I’ve spent almost my entire life being taller and bigger than everyone else and, over time, your mind has a tendency to rationalize things, like being 6’ 4”.

You actually think you can blend in.
Occasionally, like Tuesday night, I get slapped in the face with reality.
The Department party was held at the T.Y. Harbor Brewery which makes pretty decent beer. This is the second party I’ve been to at the Brewery and both times it was held in the floating party boat docked next to the Brewery.

Quick side story: Because the party boat looks nothing like a boat, it can play a trick on your mind. As you’re drinking and another large party boat cruises by, the T.Y. boat will move only slightly which gives many people the impression that they are tipsier than they really are and they’ll stop drinking. Rookie mistake. Seasoned pros will power through the temporary disorientation to ensure true inebriation. Unfortunately to get back to my apartment I have to walk across a pedestrian bridge. Remember kids, intoxication and bridges are not a good mix.
Back to the main story.

In order to make the interior of the party boat appear bigger, the Brewery lined the back wall with a long mirror. And so it happened at one point in the night as I was talking with a group of my Japanese co-workers that I happened to glance to the back of the boat and looked in the mirror. To make matters worse I was in the center of the boat and had a good view of the people to the left and right of me. I was also wearing a gray sports coat and my first impression was that I very much looked like a giant silverback gorilla talking to a pack of Chihuahuas, in standard issue black suits mind you. Ouch. There was no blending in here. Now that’s what I call a slap in the face by reality.