Relationships of Life

"This is way juicier than any of my soap scenes." Aubrey interjected.

"It gets even better," Emily continued, "I went over to say hi to James because I work with him after all, it would have been rude to ignore him.  He introduced me to Isabella and said they were on a business dinner.  I wonder why a business dinner would involve top of the line champagne."

"Didn't Isabella recognize you?" I questioned.

"That's the best part!" said Emily. "She gave me a knowing look with her eyes, but then gracefully said, ?Nice to meet you Emily.'  She completely ignored the fact that we were grade school classmates."

"Maybe I should bring some of this good stuff to the writers" Aubrey said aloud.

Aubrey works as an actress on the New York based soap, Only One Day of Life.  Unlike other people who fall into the soap opera business, Aubrey's life desire was to be on a soap.  She loved the thrill of learning hundreds of pages of dialogue a day, the camaraderie of a constant cast, and of course steady work and paychecks. Her alter-ego Kirsten was first introduced on screen after she slept with her half sister's grandfather.  Aubrey actually prefers older men; she barely even needed to fake it.  She was nominated for an Daytime Emmy her first year on the show.

"Why would she ignore you like that?" I asked.

Emily went on, "That's the part that puzzles me most.  Why would she pretend not to know me?  James was definitely embarrassed because he knows I know his pregnant wife is at home waiting for him while he's out wining and dining Isabella.  Or maybe, it was actually a business meeting."

"Yes," said Megan, "Give them both the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she didn't recognize you."

"Nah, you never forget a face you torment," Emily replied. "We'll all have to do some investigative work on Isabella.  Where has she been? Why is she resurfacing now? And why did she pretend to not know me?"

"Isabella Rainer!" I exclaimed and questioned. "What's that witch doing in New York?"

Isabella Rainer had been the class bitch growing up in our hometown on Long Island.  She tormented me about my high school boyfriend Ethan because he had a slight case of acne (and now he's my husband), mocked Emily because of her 'plain Jane' wardrobe, and made fun of Megan and Aubrey just because they were out best friends.  My favorite thing about graduating from high school was getting away from the small town little people like Isabella who didn't deserve the honor of even knowing me.

"Don't you remember when she hooked up with Brian Zaner?" asked Aubrey. "That was hilarious for the rest of us.  Gorgeous guy and football team captain.  Has one night with little Isabella Rainer and then doesn't want to see her again! I reveled in that for over a week.  Every time she glared in my direction, I couldn't help but laugh."

"Come on ladies," chimed in Megan, "please don't talk so distastefully about someone we know."

Megan was the goody good girl of the bunch.  She didn't like to talk badly about people.  Firstly, she thought it was low class to gossip.  Secondly, she believed in karma and whatever she dishes out will no doubt come back to bite her in the butt.

"Well then, Megan honey," laughed Emily, "close those pure ears of yours because what I'm about to tell you is big.  Isabella was at the restaurant with my co-worker James.  The two of them were clearly having a romantic dinner because I saw an uncorked bottle of champagne chilling in a bucket of ice."

"So she was having a nice dinner.  Big deal." said Megan.

"Not a big deal?" Emily replied, "I don't think James' very pregnant wife would have the same sentiment."

When Emily flew into the coffee shop one Wednesday morning, Megan, Aubrey, and I were already gabbing away and sipping their lattes.

Emily, Megan,  Aubrey, and I have been friends since grade school.  We met while we were 'tortured' by our fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Suisserfeld.  As the four of us passed through junior high school and high school, our bond was never broken.  We did explore their own identities through college while attending Columbia, UCLA, Cornell, and NYU respectively.  Post-college, we all met up in New York City, living near each other, working hard, and meeting for coffee and snacks whenever their schedules allowed.

 "What's with the crazy speed today?" asked Megan, "have any juicy gossip for us?"

"Come on guys! You know this is just how I normally, naturally walk," replied Emily. "We're in New York City anyway; we have to hustle and bustle here."

She quickly motioned the barista who knew to bring her double espresso straight away.  Emily got incredible service because she tipped well.  The barista could probably pay his entire month's rent on what Emily threw his way.  However, Emily could afford it.  She was a TV news producer for one of the major station's magazine news shows.  Also, she lived with her power lawyer boyfriend Trevor who took care of rent, utilities, and showered Sally with extravagant gifts and credit card spending privileges.  For such an independent woman like Emily, Megan, Aubrey, and I were surprised by her relationship with Ethan but chalked it up to pure, innocent love.

Emily continued, "Though I don't have any juicy gossip, I will tell you who I spotted having dinner with a colleague of mine the other night.  Does the name Isabella Rainer ring a bell?"

Six months ago I dated a guy named Ethan.  He was the second nicest guy I ever went out with.  We only went on three dates because the chemistry just wasn't there.  Two weeks after we stopped going out, my friend Teresa called me and said she was set up on a blind date with him.  Clearly I told her to go for it because maybe they would hit it off.  And they did.  They have been dating about six months and things have been progressing.  Just this week they decided to invite a bunch of their friends over and hosted a BBQ.  This was really only the second time I saw them interact with each other.  That was two days ago.

Today, I got a call from my friend saying that Ethan and Teresa are getting engaged tomorrow night. "What?" I said.  I couldn't believe it nor could I stop laughing (I respond to anything by laughing). I don't know why this is so strange for me! Most of you will think that I think it's weird because I dated him and now he will be in my life forever.  But I promise you in good faith that it's not that.  I think it's just odd because even though I dated him and I know him, I don't know them as a couple.  I know Teresa and I know Ethan, but I don't know Teresa and Ethan as a pair, together.

I only hope that not knowing them as one entity changes really fast.  I hope that since they will be now be termed engaged, I'll come to know their relationship more and feel more comfortable.  And like my other friends have said, "They are getting married and you will hopefully know them longer together as a couple than you knew them in their single years."

Ever want to tell a person off? Want to yell exactly what is on your mind? Of course you refrain for fear or embarrassment for both you and the person to whom you'd be yelling at.  It is easy to get angry, and it is much harder to control the anger.  Anything can bother you and make the hairs on your arms stick up and figurative smoke come steaming through your ears and nose.  It is important to stop for a moment and in a quick second evaluate the situation.

I will explain this in a way to which everyone can relate.  Parents. Mom and Dad.  Of course they do things which are bothersome to their children.  It only gets worse as the children grow into adults.  They forget something important that you told them.  They don't understand what you are saying and you in turn get extremely frustrated with them.  Or they think they can use the same parenting skills that they used when you were five years old.  The next time a situation like this arises, you must stop what you are doing.  Count to three (or whatever number is takes to calm down), breathe, and decide what to do.  Either suck is up and take the beating (not literally, but rather yelling) or speak to your parents (ahem, your elders) in a composed fashion.  They will hopefully appreciate this act of maturity.

What it comes down to is that these people are your parents; they raised you, supported you, and cared for you.  You owe them respect and they deserve it.  Treat them as you want your kids to treat you.  If you treat your parents in this way, it will become second nature to control your hot temper with others as well.