Who's winning here?

I ran into an ex boyfriend at the supermarket this morning. He was my first real boyfriend, we dated intermittently from 8th-12th grade, and I was his prom date. We parted on friendly terms, though I haven't seen him since I was probably a freshman in college.


Of course today was the day that I rolled out of bed, pulled on the sweatpants, didn't put any makeup on and put my hair up because I hadn't washed it yet. I was just stopping into the supermarket quick and there he was. We'd always been competitive throughout school, so of course we immediately started comparing notes on where we are in our lives:


Me:

• Master's Degree

• Married

• 3 kids

• Own a home

• Currently unemployed, probably going back to the hellhole next week.

• Chubby

Him:

• J.D., passed the bar exam last year

• Married

• No kids

• Living at home w/ parents

• Currently working at the supermarket stocking shelves until he can find a job as an attorney.

• Still short, with a hugely receding hairline

Needless to say, we were both kinda doing the walk of shame as we parted ways. Clearly, we both expected to be doing far better as we approached 30. We were both considered "smart kids" in school, expected to do great things in our careers...yet here we are, both of us underemployed, wondering when the fuck everything is supposed to fall into place.


As it turns out, it's the "average" kids who have turned out to be most successful...the ones who were popular and were involved in lots of activities...those who had the brains to get into a trade or who took a chance and opened up a business.


Interesting how once the "smart" kids get out into the real world, they ain't so smart any more.