Today I couldn't do a large part of my job because a certain customer-relationship management software refused to allow me access to some things I needed.
I called the company's support line, to let them know I needed them to fix... something and make it work. Unable to find anything wrong on their end, the support person asks me if he can log in on my account to see if it works at his computer.
"Sure," I say, then quickly realize this means I'll have to give him my username and password over the phone.
This didn't bother me because of any security issues - though I have access to some sensitive information, support guy likely has more access to me so I'm not really worried about that. No no, what I dreaded was giving him my password, which at the time (has since been reset) was a combination of the word "Rainbow" and some numbers.
He asks me for my password, and I spell it out in individual letters, avoiding saying the entire word Rainbow to the tech support guy.
"R-a-i-n-b-o-w" I spell out over the phone, and the support guy chuckles. I guess that wasn't so subtle.
Something about being obsessed with rainbows makes people take me less seriously, I'm pretty sure. I recall telling a friend once that I was "badass" because I have a tattoo, a tattoo that she quickly pointed out, is a rainbow peace sign.
I started to wonder today whether other self-described badass folks might also love rainbows, and I came across this site, which houses an electronic collection of "badass" rainbows (it is in fact, the first site you'll come across if you google "Badass Rainbow"). While some of the rainbows are more badass than others, I think the collection sufficiently proves that it is possible to be both badass and a lover of rainbows; in fact its mere existence assures me that people can love both badasses and rainbows, even though I don't find many of the pictures particularly entertaining.
By this point you've probably thought to yourself that I'm delusional; that it's possible for one to be badass and love rainbows, but not possible to consider Stephanie badass.
Sure, I turn on my Rainbow in my Room as a nightlight (a toy meant for children 5 and up, and a very well thought out gift from my friend Amanda) and stare at the rainbow projection on my wall until I can fall asleep every night. But you know what I'm thinking about in these moments before my eyes shut and I dream about rainbows? I think about what my next tattoo will be, and even if it's in rainbow colors it'll still be done with needles. Or I think about leading a revolution and taking over the world to do things my way.
As I prepare to turn 24 in 2 days - bet that's something you didn't know required preparation - I've done a good deal of reflecting on who I am and want to be in life. Rainbow-lover, badass, grad student in her mid 20s who can't afford the internet at home so she's writing this at a coffee shop - whatever desriptors you'd use for me, they're probably accurate in one context or another. I believe 24 is the 'official' start of my mid-20s, and I'm trying to figure out what exactly is it I accomplished in my early 20s, and what do I want from my mid 20s? When I look back at my mid 20s, what descriptors will I use for myself?
In that spirit, Marco will be providing a guest-column on my blog tomorrow. Thanks to the wisdom he's acquired in his several more years than me on the planet, Marco has already thought a great deal about his mid 20s, and graciously provided me with a piece he wrote entitled "Things I've Learned in my Mid 20s." Perhaps these things will come a little easier to me, since I've already heard them from someone older and wiser, or perhaps not. Either way, who doesn't like knowing what Marco has to say? Read tomorrow.
I want rainbow bacon...
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