Saturday, December 27, 2008


All the time I've been spending in Springfield has me identifying with the most famous resident of any "Springfield". I'm feeling very much like an underachiever today. Before I explain my underachiever status, I'd like to let you know that the Simpsons are not from Springfield, Illinois so please don't think you're being funny when I tell you where I'm from and you not-so-cleverly say "Oh! Like the Simpsons!!" Abe Lincoln is actually OUR most famous resident. (Ok, and senate-seat-selling Blagojevich is sort of a resident of Springfield, as it is the capital of Illinois, but thankfully he spends most of his time in the suburbs of Chicago.)

Anyway... my high school friends and I have an almost-annual tradition of meeting for breakfast while we are all home for Christmas. Some years Laura goes to Florida or Elizabeth goes to Aruba or whatever. But this year all my girls were here, despite the record snowfall in Portland trying to keep Elizabeth stuck there.
Here we are:
Laura, Elizabeth, Maysoun, Me

Laura just finished her masters degree in Museum Education and Leadership. She is the Assistant Vice President of a museum in Chicago. Elizabeth has a masters degree in education and she owns and runs her own school in Portland. Maysoun just finished her doctorate (!) in anthropology. She works for a non-profit in NYC aiding immigrants - so she's not only extremely intelligent, but she uses her brains to help others! And then there's me. I've never had any desire for any schooling past my BA and I make a living planning parties for lawyers. Ugh. I'm pretty sure I had a lot of potential, but unlike my high school friends, I am not living up to it.

Now let's add the spouses.
Eliz, John, Laura, Chris, Pat, Me, Maysoun

Yep - still feeling like the underachiever here. John is an author. This year he was able to quit his "real" job and is an author all day instead. Ergh. He's living my dream. What I wouldn't give for an imagination. Chris is a bike racer and as part of his bike store job, he also fits big-wig bikers for biking shoes. Next month he's going to Portugal to fit new shoes for the Tour de France champion. Wow!

I think my only real talent is to surround myself with the best and brightest people around.


Elaine said...

I'll take the last sentence as a direct compliment to myself. Which museum does your friend run?

Wayne said...

That's right, the Simpsons are from MY home town (where I just was two months ago): Springfield VERMONT!

Karissa said...

what does Pat do? Eric asked me the other day and I had no idea.

ebethe99 said...

John asks that you blur out the Bears on his shirt.