Maybe its because I am from Seattle. . .

I have always thought that anyone who played Polo must be a royal snob.  When someone says "Polo" eI envision irritating Virginia Socialites with big hats and a soulless existence built on a spineless, but somehow powerful and wealthy husband.  Love is neither here, nor there. . . .Sorry, I am from the West!  We do not care for pretension and Polo screams pretension. . .I thought.

Last night I sat next to an endearing and rather fun individual.  He introduced himself as Charlie Muldoon and continued to make polite and genuine conversation thru the evening.  When he saw me cocking my neck a bit to see the speaker, he quickly moved his chair so I could see clearly.
During the amazing cultural performances, I saw him take pictures of some of the cooler styles and dances and email them quickly to Mara and Joey.  Almost positive those are his kids.
He was dressed nicely, but it was not Gucci.  He did mention that he lived on a farm out in Maryland where they played Polo.  On occasion he had hosted Ambassadors to engage in a round of Polo. 
My friend Alex (who had invited me to the dinner) asked if he could come out and play Polo, Charlie said "sure, anytime!".  Now Alex does actually work with a Policy Consulting Firm and many of the Embassy's, but he is much younger and maybe a little brash.  I was surprised that he would so easily offer an invitation.
Mr. Muldoon was actually there with his new venture in BioFuels.  Using waste agricultural material to produce usable fuel. Awesome!
He asked me what I did and I explained that I worked for a nonprofit in Bethesda.  As it turns out he works with nonprofit that he really enjoys, called TheManyHats.org.
Looked up his org today.  As it turns out, this is who I was sitting next to at dinner last night. . .

Charles Muldoon 

Charlie is one of the top polo pros in the United States. Formerly, 6 goals, he has competed at the highest level of polo nationally and internationally: at the World Cup, the U.S. Open, the Geneva Open (Switzerland), the FIP World Championship (Chile) and the Camera de Deputados.  He also has won the 1999 20-goal Texas Open, and the 2001 26-goal USPA Gold Cup.  With his brother Joe he is a multiple winner of the Monty Waterbury 20-goal.  In 2009 he represented the USA versus the England in the Brian Morrison Memorial Cup, a 20-goal arena match. themanyhats.org

In his nonprofit he provides kids ages 12-18 the opportunity to play Polo on his farm.  It sounds sort of lofty, but you know, I think it would be genuinely fantastic to attend.  

You can absolutely never guess who you are sitting next to.  Whether their stature "appears" to be high or low, whether they engage in a round of Polo or not.  People are people and come in sincere and delightful forms in all stations in life.  Think I had almost forgotten that.  Living in DC this past few months, I have run into quite a few stereotypes.  From the unfortunate dude who referred to the Mediterranean Sea as "the Med" about 15 times in one conversation, to the name dropping and assumptions made by pompous White House staffers.
Was beginning to think people here were straight fake, especially in the professional and political sphere.
It may be in some circles, but not at dinner with the Prime Minister of Malaysia last night.
Thanks Charlie for the reminder.