In grade school, one day I always looked forward to was Career Day. On Career Day, the parents of students would come to school and spend a few minutes telling us about their jobs. Occasionally a doctor or a fireman would show up, but for the most part it was just average people telling us about their jobs. Even careers that might seem mundane to you today seemed pretty exciting to a room full of second and third graders.

My dad came attended Career Day at least twice (maybe three times) and talked to us about being a printer. Each time he came he would bring things that he had printed at work. One time, Dad brought some giant over-sized dollar bills he had printed. I don’t remember the denomination, but they were so comically large (like, 2x-3x normal size) that they could never be mistaken for legal currency. Regardless, the company was soon contacted by government officials who ordered them to stop printing the bills. I may be getting the details of the story wrong, but occasionally I’ll talk to someone from grade school who still remembers seeing those giant dollar bills.

I don’t know why, but when Mason started elementary school one of my first thoughts was, “I’m finally going to get to do Career Day!” I could talk to the kids about the FAA and computer security work! If they didn’t fill all the slots, maybe I could go again and talk about writing! What teacher doesn’t want someone to stand in front of a bunch of elementary school kids and preach the value of proper grammar!?

Turns out, no one. Mason’s school no longer has Career Day. It was replaced with Dental Hygiene Day. Bummer.

If anyone would like to book me to come to your school, house, party, or whatever and talk about my career, I am available. Now that Dad is retired I can probably get you a two-for-one deal with him as well.

UPDATE: Dad showed up last night with the $20 bills and gave them to me!