A truly mean-spirited reflection on a chance encounter with an old girlfriend
In these parts you’ll occasionally hear the expression, “there, but for the grace of God, go I.”
Part of the magic of moving back to the place where you grew up is that there’s always the chance/risk of bumping into somebody you haven’t seen in 20 years. Today, as we shopped in Whole Foods, a woman walked past me, a woman I hadn’t seen since we broke up in 1990. 16 years. 16 long, long years. 16 years that appear to have been unkind to her.
It did not end well, back then. She wasn’t the love of my life or anything, but I didn’t want to break up, either. She had bounced back and forth between me and this other guy a time or two, and I gathered from what she said and what my buddy, who was dating her sister, told me, that it was a tale we’ve all seen before. The bad boy arouses her sense of adventure while the rich boy promises a life of financial security.
Contrary to what you see in every popular Hollywood romantic comedy on the subject, the rich boy usually wins, and so it was when she sent me on my way. Today, though, it became startlingly clear that I’m the one who won that round. Big time. She looks like she could be my aunt, and if I weren’t laughing so hard right now I’d be embarrassed to admit that I ever dated her. She was a pretty woman in her mid-20s, but 16 years later she’s a frump in her late 50s. I’m no runway model, to be sure, but I’m in a lot better shape than some my age.
I’m a bad person, of course. We’ve all known that for a long time, and you’re right to chastise me for being so shallow and mean-spirited. This is low and cheap and beneath a supposedly mature adult, I know. All I can say is that getting dumped hurts, and when you get 86ed for material reasons, I guess it leaves a mark.
Anyway, I accept your reproach, but I’m still glad that I’m not the poor bastard who has to look at that face first thing in the morning. He may have a great job and more money than me, but money ain’t everything, is it?
Heh heh heh…
:xpost:
lullaby pit 
No censure here. I *love* the sweet taste of cosmic justice, or whatever one would care to call that. Getting burned in love is certainly part of the human experience, but dammit, so is finding out that the cause of intense personal pain got exactly what they got. When it’s what you think they had coming to em, that’s just icing on the cake…and a damn fine icing it is.
No censure here. I *love* the sweet taste of cosmic justice, or whatever one would care to call that. Getting burned in love is certainly part of the human experience, but dammit, so is finding out that the cause of intense personal pain got exactly what they got. When it’s what you think they had coming to em, that’s just icing on the cake…and a damn fine icing it is.
I had a similar experience, running into an old flame who dropped me like a hot potato. It sure felt great to say hi to her in a real condescending manner. She was pretty in her early 20’s, but gained at least 80 pounds by her late 40’s. It wasn’t one of those Dan Fogleberg “Same Old Lang Syne” moments. After she dropped me and ripped out my heart, I found my lovely wife, and actually ended up trading up. I did have one of those “Same Old Lang Syne” moments with another old flame who I ran into a couple of years ago, but I put the experience into perspective, and felt no regrets.
I guess I’m just as shallow as you. We ought to start an organization of shallow guys here on LJ.
Aloha,
Jeff
I had a similar experience, running into an old flame who dropped me like a hot potato. It sure felt great to say hi to her in a real condescending manner. She was pretty in her early 20’s, but gained at least 80 pounds by her late 40’s. It wasn’t one of those Dan Fogleberg “Same Old Lang Syne” moments. After she dropped me and ripped out my heart, I found my lovely wife, and actually ended up trading up. I did have one of those “Same Old Lang Syne” moments with another old flame who I ran into a couple of years ago, but I put the experience into perspective, and felt no regrets.
I guess I’m just as shallow as you. We ought to start an organization of shallow guys here on LJ.
Aloha,
Jeff
Karmic retribution, I guess. Like, if she had chosen the guy with the heart of gold rather than the watch of gold she would have remained beautiful forever. But since she chose a guy based on material possessions, she got ugly. Besides, if she’s rich, can’t she afford a personal trainer and some Botox? Rich people aren’t supposed to be ugly.
There’s a lesson in there somewhere….
Karmic retribution, I guess. Like, if she had chosen the guy with the heart of gold rather than the watch of gold she would have remained beautiful forever. But since she chose a guy based on material possessions, she got ugly. Besides, if she’s rich, can’t she afford a personal trainer and some Botox? Rich people aren’t supposed to be ugly.
There’s a lesson in there somewhere….
I try to be above this kind of behavior, because the gods know there are women out there with reason to hate me, as well. All I can do is try to live as well as I can so that I never provide them with the kind of glee I felt yesterday…
I try to be above this kind of behavior, because the gods know there are women out there with reason to hate me, as well. All I can do is try to live as well as I can so that I never provide them with the kind of glee I felt yesterday…
Maybe it could be like YES MA’AM from Married, With Children.
Maybe it could be like YES MA’AM from Married, With Children.
I don’t know about Botox. Not unless they’ve come out with a jowl remover.
I don’t know about Botox. Not unless they’ve come out with a jowl remover.
Grace of God
I guess we have conclusive proof that money can’t buy happiness – so weren’t you lucky not to have money?
We call that irony where I come from, Mister….
Grace of God
I guess we have conclusive proof that money can’t buy happiness – so weren’t you lucky not to have money?
We call that irony where I come from, Mister….
Re: Grace of God
Technically speaking, we don’t have proof that money can’t buy happiness. We just have proof that it can get you into trouble.
I assume you recognized some of the players.
Re: Grace of God
Technically speaking, we don’t have proof that money can’t buy happiness. We just have proof that it can get you into trouble.
I assume you recognized some of the players.