Her name was Michelle and she was someone I met at a social event. She was dating another guy I was friends with. We would sometimes talk and I learned she was studying to be a veterinarian in college. She lived in Palos Heights which is one of Chicago’s more affluent neighborhoods.
I had to tell you that to tell you this. One day I happened to run into her while walking my dogs in my neighborhood. No, I don’t live in Palos Heights, I just happened to live close to that social event. She was on her way to that event and we hadn’t talked for years. She seemed excited to talk to me and told me that she had a new bf. Then she said something that surprised me.
“This will sound terrible but my new boyfriend can’t really afford me,” she said. “He isn’t a professional like I am and he isn’t the same kind of class of person I am.”
I was stunned. I didn’t know how to respond to that. “Michelle, how long have you been a veterinarian?”
“Oh, I haven’t finished it yet. I am just studying for the test now,” she said.
“Of course. So I guess it is hard to find someone who deserves you isn’t it?” I said. “What are you going to do?”
She sighed. “I don’t know. I guess I will have to break it to him gently. Say, are you still going out with Anna?”
“No, she got tired of me,” I said. “It is best things didn’t work out.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. Hey here is my phone number maybe we can do something sometime,” she said.
I never went out with her. This will sound terrible but I don’t date people with a poverty of spirit.