I don't remember a time in my life when my own father didn't come home wearing a tie after a long day at work. Ties in the midwest are such a symbol of a professional job -- especially when you are slowly moving up the ranks in a union job. My dad worked hard at an airplane manufacturer. He moved from working in the factory to a desk job. It took my dad many years, but we were proud when he became an engineer. It made all those years of my father wearing a tie to work and trying his best to get that promotion.