Cruel World

I love a good wallow and pity party because I love talking about myself (see: The McWonder Years archive) but the truth is, I'm incredibly lucky to have amazing friends.  Friends who take care of me.  Check up on me.  Give me connections.  And buy me dinner.  The people I can count single handedly (I won't even have to use all my fingers) who read this thing do all three.  Tonight, the lovely Marie (and Bryant) swept into town in a brand new car ("Is this what happens when you graduate from Harvard?") to take me out to dinner.  We were in the hipster section of town but no worries, I was in flannel, which matched what the old bearded guy strolling down the street was wearing.  We witnessed a rat burrowing under a tree as we sat by the restaurant window.  When I turned to question Bry whether what I thought I saw was really what I saw, he tried to put the most positive spin on the whole incident.  "Was that a - that's too small to be a mouse, right?"  "Well, I think that was a rat.  But it wasn't so large that we should be grossed out or concerned."  We got to talk Harvard and PBMs and Vermont's single payer plans, which felt lovely and homey after a month of Hopkins.  When the last spoonful of coconut flan was scooped up, I made up a weak fight to protest when everything was put on one card, but they took good care of me.  And reminded me that being in a new city isn't much to whine about when there are awesome people sharing their experiences and footing the bill.

Moi: You don't have to do this.  I'm not poor yet.

Marie: But you will be.

Touche.