So, It was Halloween 2005. I was attending classes at the University of Iowa and working on campus. To celebrate, I wore my black hooded sweatshirt with the Umbrella Corporation patches ironed onto it. A subtle statement, I admit, but as a thirty-something in a college setting, I thought subtle was the best way to go.

My boss at the time, a twenty-something who should have gotten the reference, came up to me with a confused look on his face. “Umbrella Corporation?” He sounded even more puzzled than he looked. “What does Umbrella Corporation make?”

For a moment, I looked at him like he’d grown a second head. I couldn’t believe he didn’t get it. Normally, I would have taken the time to explain but, I have no sympathy on Halloween.

“Zombies,” I replied and walked away.