Fitting

Have you ever been to a dress fitting? You know, trying to have an outfit sized so that it will fit you just right. The problem with such experiences seems to be that even after the outfit is fitted and everything seems to be just fine, something changes and the outfit no longer fits. Anyone even know what I am talking about?

Friends Forever?

Do you remember that song that was overplayed when we graduated from high school . . . you know . . . the one about how we would all be friends forever? If not, allow me to provide the lyrics for those of you who never really stored information and just memorized long enough to regurgitate it.


And so we talked all night about the rest of our lives
Where we're gonna be when we turn 25
I keep thinking times will never change
Keep on thinking things will always be the same
But when we leave this year we won't be coming back
No more hanging out cause we're on a different track
And if you got something that you need to say
You better say it right now cause you don't have another day
Cause we're moving on and we can't slow down
These memories are playing like a film without sound
And I keep thinking of that night in June
I didn't know much of love
But it came too soon
And there was me and you
And then we got real blue
Stay at home talking on the telephone
We would get so excited and we'd get so scared
Laughing at ourselves thinking life's not fair
And this is how it feels

[1] - As we go on
We remember
All the times we
Had together
And as our lives change
Come Whatever
We will still be
Friends Forever

So if we get the big jobs
And we make the big money
When we look back now
Will our jokes still be funny?
Will we still remember everything we learned in school?
Still be trying to break every single rule
Will little brainy Bobby be the stockbroker man?
Can Heather find a job that won't interfere with her tan?
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly
And this is how it feels

[Repeat 1]

La, la, la, la:
Yeah, yeah, yeah
La, la, la, la:
We will still be friends forever

Will we think about tomorrow like we think about now?
Can we survive it out there?
Can we make it somehow?
I guess I thought that this would never end
And suddenly it's like we're women and men
Will the past be a shadow that will follow us 'round?
Will these memories fade when I leave this town
I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye
Keep on thinking it's a time to fly

[Repeat 1 (3x)]

Well I just have to say that it's a sad realization when you graduate from college and look back at the friendships you swore you would keep when you left high school. After you reflect, you look at the friends you have as you leave college and wonder, is it even possible that these relationships will be any different? Sure, we have a lot in common right now, but where will a year find us? Will we still be talking? Or I will I lose even more people for whom I greatly care?

It's difficult to try to stay in contact with people right now because exerting the effort does not seem worth the effort when they all decide that they have bigger and better things to do.

So I don't think it's fair to say friends are friends forever. I think you should probably say friends are friends so long as both are willing to make a concerted effort to stay in touch. Memories are only good for so much, relationships and ongoing interaction seems to me to be worth so much more.

And yes . . . I am feeling particularly cynical about this situation.

Yes . . . There Really Are People This Stupid

Given the nature of my current employment, I found the following entertaining:

In the settlement of a class action lawsuit filed against a Boston area bank, the bank deposited up to $8.76 in each class member's account.

However, the lawyers' fees for the lawsuit amounted to $8.5 million.

In order to pay the lawyers who brought the lawsuit on behalf of the bank's customers, the bank then withdrew up to $90 or more from each customer's account.

Source: New York Times, "Math of a Class Action: Winning $2.19 costs $91.33" November 21, 1995

Related?

Let me begin by saying that I get it (it being the outlandish assumptions of my "fellow" citizens). I understand that it's difficult for you to see two people together who happen to have one characteristic in common and not assume that they are related. I confess, it is rare to see to red-headed individuals dating, let alone engaged.

Now to the fun part, the story. So Curtis and I are in line to check out at the Home Depot down the road. The woman at the cash register is struggling to find someone in flooring to get a price check on the rugs we were buying to put under Curtis' desks in the basement (yes, I did write desks as the in the plural). We were waiting patiently, thankful that the woman had not given up her efforts because the place was horribly understaffed on the fourth.

A woman approaches from behind. I notice that she is staring at us and moving around to look at us from different angles. CREEPY. She then made eye contact with me when she noticed that I was looking back. We both managed a nervous smile. I look back to the lady at the check out hoping that she would find someone soon. The woman behind us in line says "Excuse me. I hope this isn't too forward, but are you two brother and sister?" FORWARD? Hello??? YES, it is forward. I respond, "No, actually we're engaged, and not related at all." She replies, "Oh I'm sorry, it's just that your hair color is almost identical, and I just kept thinking to myself, it can't be, they seem as though they are married." WOW.

As Curtis and I get back into the car, I mention how frustrating it is that people regularly assume that because of our hair color ALONE, that we are related. I don't know about you, but I don't think that people make the same assumption about people with black hair, brown hair, or purple hair. I don't think we look at people who have glasses and assume they are related. Does one commonality automatically imply blood relation? HONESTLY.