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A former high school classmate and I were preparing for an upcoming reunion. She was at my house and we were discussing the details of the upcoming event.
Out of the blue, without batting an eye, she announced, “Gee, Cindi, I always thought you would amount to something.”
Cat got your tongue, Cindi?Yep. I didn’t know what to say. I was absolutely floored by her comment.
Should I thank her for being ambitious for me and then apologize for, apparently, failing miserably in her eyes?
Should I promise to do better? Should I whack her up the side of the head or break out in paroxysms of laughter?
I did none of the above. I stood there, like a big MISERABLE FAILURE, unable to collect my thoughts and come up with a semblance of a response.I’m not so good on my feet.Later, after her departure, I was still reeling from her remark. Who in the hell says that kind of thing unless you’re a pissed off mother who’s talking to her 50-year-old kid, behind bars for the umpteenth time, having abandoned her children, burnt down the house, robbed the liquor store, is fried on meth and wallowing in her own excrement?No one is harder on me than myself but a quick assessment of my life led me to conclude that I had nothing to apologize for.I have never been arrested, frisked (darn!), handcuffed (well, only for fun), fingerprinted, audited by the IRS, deported, put in a paddy wagon or rubber room or questioned by the FBI. Well, maybe questioned by the FBI. Okay, that was a joke!
Unlike my friend, I did graduate college (… with honors. Come on! Cut me some slack. I just had to throw that in).
Unlike my friend, I’d never been divorced and was, and still am, married to the one and only husband that I’ve ever had. I have three children that I’m very proud of and a house that I love and a good life.
Unlike my friend, I’ve had a variety of interesting, challenging and creative jobs that were rewarding.
No, I don’t have a Jaguar parked in the garage (don’t have a garage, either) but neither does she.
I guess it boils down to not meeting other people’s expectations. I don’t know what hers were for me and I didn’t ask; don’t want to know.I only know that I’ve amounted to more than I ever expected to and, I suspect, there’s more to come.
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