My parents recently bought a new house and moved exactly 1.5 miles from their old red brick house into their new red brick house. When we were being given a tour, the thing that stood out most in my mind was the open box of Cinnamon Chex and the giant glass of Diet Coke that were sitting prominently on my dad’s office desk. You see, he used to be a surgeon. In my youth I am fairly certain my dad wore scrubs more often than he wore regular clothing. But now he has himself a cushy work-at-home desk job where he shouts into his phone that NO! I will not approve of that hysterectomy! from the comfort of his swiveling desk chair. His AAA-personality keeps him from taking regular breaks and his snack-habit drives him to the box of cereal and the coffee—for quick bursts of energy, I’m guessing.

The reason this mental image stayed so vividly with me was this.

MY DESK.

It’s Chocolate Chex instead of Cinnamon.

It’s a coffee mug instead of Diet Coke.

But this right here?

It’s genetics at work.

Because, you see, once upon a time I had an office job. Sure, I didn’t wear scrubs, but I wore the editor’s version—heels and pencil skirts. But now, I have myself a cushy work-at-home desk job where I shout into my phone that NO! I can’t fix that HTML code on that post on my own! from the comfort of my swiveling desk chair. My AAA-personality keeps me from taking regular breaks and my snack-habit drives me to the box of cereal and the coffee—for quick bursts of energy, I know.

We may live in different countries. We may look different. We may act different. We may have different taste in Chex and caffeine.

But we are the same.

I wonder if he spoils TV shows too…