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AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 17, 2006 — On Monday I was inspired (well, maybe it wasn't an inspiration, but anyway) to write about the gap between my point of view (my good life) and that of people who have a very stepped up good life. I was having dinner with two other couples. They are on that next rung and yet I count them as friends and don't worry too much about the gap.
Tonight I was inspired to think about the gap I've alreday bridged. The place I came from.
After Ballet Austin's performance of a choreographic competition (very good show) we went to a reception for partners in the lobby of the Driskill Hotel. Frankly, we are quite accustomed to such receptions where groups press a few wines and snacks on people who are donors or representatives
of companys that are donors of at least some basic amount. In this case I think it was a thousand dollars a year.
FFP and I were busy trying to shore up contacts, work the crowd talking to people we don't usually see at such events, guests, company reps. I saw a banker and his wife and went over to chat. A young couple came up to the group of couches and chairs where these folks had sat down to have their drinks and snacks and where I'd joined them.
"Can we sit here?" Asked the man. He was young, dutifully suited up and his wife was wearing her best and very far along in a pregnancy.
"Sure," we said.
After a bit they were getting up and the man said, "Should we put these plates somewhere?"
"Oh, someone will pick them up," I said.
"We don't usually go to these things. My boss gave me the tickets." He said. He seemed abashed to be in the company of people who were donors.
"Really? Who is your boss?" I asked.
He told me and I said I knew him and had dinner with him Monday.
"I only sit twenty feet from him." The young man declared. His boss is a company founder still hard at work on his company's business. When he can't make a performance, he gives the tickets to an employee. This young guy really made the most of it, having a nice date with his wife.
"We have to go relief our babysitter," he said. They hurried off.
I used to be there. I didn't get to ballets and certainly not to partners' parties. I didn't know these things existed. But when I first peeked in, I was like this couple. Taking it all in, trying all the food, checking out everything.
I even remember a few times being caught in the aura of a company bigwig. Although everywhere I worked they were mostly quite a bit more distant than sitting out among the techies.
There's a nice pleasant surprise to bridging those gaps. Being with people who lead slightly different lives, by necessity or fortune. It seems that nowadays there are few people who are like us around. Leading the good life but having to watch the dollars if not the pennies. Or else the people on each side of us are faking a bit.
shop window blast from the past