asa, aka anxiety swirls around, awkward stuff abounds

At some point, one just has to embrace the socially awkward moments of being at ASAs.  This year, the swirl of anxiety is around the Hilton lobby statue where many of us are trying to meet up with appointments.   After weeks away at research or other destinations, re-immersing into the academic milieu can be a shock. 

For people who have difficulties matching faces with names, this is a trying time.  On the sidewalk, I waved enthusiastically at a pedestrian from afar.  When the person jerked his head behind him to see who I was waving at, I realized that name on the ASA tag wasn’t Fabio’s name.  Sorry about that brief moment of panic, Michael. 

Tip: Eat and hydrate, folks.  I’m hearing some of you say, “I haven’t had anything to eat yet” late at night.  It’s a good excuse to try the NYC food scene.

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