The Chameleon Gene

[adrienne oyler]

Do you have this gene? Do you suffer from it? Or do you use it to your advantage? What gene is this you ask, it’s the one that allows you to blend in. You depend on it to become the fish in the middle of the giant school no different from any of the other fish. It propels you to the center of the herd, just one more dung colored horse. You stop one day and look but you cannot tell if you are looking at your own reflection or at another well blended mare’s. It is a great responsibility to be different. You suddenly realize you are not sure you want to be like everyone else. So you change the way you comb you hair, pierce an ear, get a tattoo. But you better look behind you because before you know it you will be in another herd with their hair combed just so with a pierced ear and a tattoo. I guess you can take some solace from the fact you are in front and somehow you became the leader.

[Edythe Stromme]

Very interesting concept. I think I definitely have the gene and it can be useful. You can just plod along in whatever herd you choose and everyone thinks that of course you belong. It helps you get by quite well most of the time but the problem is that you can have some fairly dissonant moments if people from your different herds meet. Which ones do you blend with then??

I have a similar theory that women over a certain age are invisible. I have a friend who hates to go to her club and swim because she hates how she looks. She needs the exercise to look better but can't go because of how she looks. I have assured her that no one knows or cares. The men will check you out and dismiss you as old if you are a day over 35 (maybe even younger) and the other women only look to see if you are fatter than they are. It is a great comfort to them when you are either fatter, older or in worse shape. You can think of yourself as serving as a negative role model. At least you’re serving some purpose. No, really, that's a good thing.