Trading Places

There's prolly not a soul amongst us who hasn't played that ol' parlor game, to wit: "if you could be someone else, who would you be?"  I'd like to modify that jes a lil bit, mainly coz I'm quite satisfied with my life, thankyaverymuch.  I'll step out on a limb here by sayin' those who play the "trading places" game aren't particularly satisfied with their status quo, whereas I am... satisfied.  We won't do a deep dive into the psychological reasons for that except to say I'd not trade my simple joys and limited problem set for someone/anyone else's.

My change:  "If you HAD to trade your life with someone... who would that someone be?"

My choice:  Mike Rowe.  I like the guy's sensibilities, to begin with.  He identifies with the blue collar crowd and that's a BIG plus with me.  I've worked both sides of that street... blue-collar and "professional"... and the blue-collar guys seem to have a much better grasp on what's real and what's immaterial to success and happiness in life.  Once again: no philosophical deep dives.

But I think this ad is symptomatic of my larger point:

OK, this is some Madison Avenue type speaking and Mr. Rowe is just playin' a part, granted... but this is a part he's well-suited for and, on the whole, makes the ad eminently believable.  I'm generally not a sucker for ad copy in any way, shape, or form.  But if anything could move me away from my beloved 501s, it would be that ad.  Well, sorta.

There was a time in the way-back when my nickname was "bunz" among the female Airperson set at Fortuna AFS.  I didn't become aware of this little factoid until much later in life when one of those female Airpersons confided in me... a good friend who was once a "friend with benefits"... she being one who bandied the term about.  Or so she told me.  But we digress.  Mr. Rowe... AND Madison Avenue... are both well aware of the important things in life, "bunz" and women's perception of such being one of those prime movers.

That resonates with me.  So if I HAD to trade places with someone/anyone... Mike Rowe would be the guy.  And I wouldn't mind a couple of few women... in my age cohort, of course... tugging on MY jeans.