The only one that comes to mind is this memory from when I was 4. It was my birthday and I got a guayabera from my dad (he’s Cuban as the day is long). I wanted to wear it out that day, and had been invited to my next door neighbor Ary’s swim meet. He was also 4 (or 5), but a really sporty kid.

So I’m sitting in the stands alone watching… in my guayabera and slacks. And at some point, I see Ary wave me over to sit with him on the swimmers bench (he was an awesome dude like that). So I go over and sit.

Now imagine, an entire row of about 10 little kids sitting on the bench, all in swim suits except me on the end in my guayabera and slacks… and a girl sits down next to me. She says, "Hi!" I look up with a smile and say, "Hi," and she says, "I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to Ary."

Now I’m sure there are way more embarrassing stories out there than that… but the memory has never left me. I get embarrassed just thinking about it. I can see it like it was yesterday.

And I remember never wanting to wear that guayabera ever again.

Ask me anything