Wise Friend,
I went to a community dinner. I didn’t like the surroundings. I joined, hoping to interact with people from that city.
In the beginning, I chose a table and sat next to Myra, a lawyer formerly from Mexico City, a lovely lady with a great sense of humour.
Later, Pat and her two daughters joined our table. There was something so humble about her. She mentioned somebody had invited there and she didn’t know people around the room.
I told myself she must have been a single mother and probably that someone invited her for being relatively poor.
Sweet Friend,
I wonder why?
Wise Friend,
I asked Pat if she was working. “I wish I would. However, I’m on a sabbatical after fifteen years working on community committees. I wonder if this isn’t a waste of my degree.”
I replied that it was a fantastic idea, muttering something about being able to afford the break concerning putting bread on the table.
Pat said her husband had been very generous since the children were born.
“Hmmm!!!,” I thought. So Pat wasn’t poor!
Sweet Friend,
Funny, isn’t it?
Wise Friend,
Myra, the lawyer, moved her seat closer and asked Pat from where she knew her. Pat mentioned her full name and Myra seemed satisfied with the answer. I was clueless.
Three of us chatted about children, dyslexia and schools.
Pat left. I told Myra that initially, I had thought Pat was a poor single mother. Myra laughed and said that Pat was the wealthiest woman in the city (I’m not sure if in that community only or, in the city at large). Pat’s husband did not support her financially, as she was wealthy herself coming from an extremely wealthy family.
Myra knew Pat from the media, as Pat frequently had appeared in newspapers and on TV organising this or that event, donating vast amounts of money to this or that charity.
Sweet Friend,
Wow!!! How far from your initial assumptions!
Wise Friend,
Wow, indeed! My dearest son has been begging forever not to make any assumptions. Each time I think back to that evening I smile and my son comes to mind.
I reflect on my experience with these communities. As I travel, I found a way to join events of local communities. I met many comfortable, wealthy women in Sydney, Beverly Hills, Houston, NYC, and elsewhere. Many times, I heard wealthy women dress ostentatiously, wearing glittering fabrics and jewels. I never witnessed that.
I visited beautiful homes and met elegant women, but nothing glittery as such. Clothing-wise, I noticed modesty and elegance. Sometimes, though rarely, some dress in bad looking and or cheap clothing. Maybe some great jewellery though not excessive. ,
Even at evening events women rarely expose their backs, wear extremely short hems or low-cut dresses/blouses.
Now, I’m wondering about these comments about wealthy women, both from the outside and inside the communities as such.
Sweet Friend,
You are very observant about life. Reading your emails is like watching a movie.
eachword-eachday 