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Why I Questioned My Self-Worth On the Road
How a random license plate triggered an existential self-exam.
A new taco place opened in our town, and it’s been getting great reviews. As it was Friday, and my wife and I have both had very productive weeks, we decided we deserved tacos for lunch.
This isn’t about those tacos, although the reviews were spot on.
On my way to pick up our order, I noticed the car in front of me sporting the following vanity license plate.
IMNO1
I don’t usually pay that much attention to license plates. Just the same, we were at a stoplight, and I needed to distract myself from anticipatory pre-taco hunger.
IMNO1?
Then I parsed it out.
“I am number one.”
Well, I thought. This person has a healthy self-image. Maybe too healthy, but beneficial nonetheless. It was a luxury car with out-of-state plates in a part of town where one doesn’t see that much. Perhaps they were just passing through.
Then I thought of another way the license plate could be read.
“I’m no one.”
Well, I thought (again). This person has a terrible self-image.
