Betty's Gold

She wasn't your ordinary passenger, sitting in economy class on the trip.  We were travelling from Asheville to Washington, D.C., the first leg of my journey to my new home.  In New England.

It was her cream colored brown vertical striped shirt with coordinating black slacks and Monroe brown shoes that gave her away.  That $1,000 plus ensemble spoke of a life at least well dressed.  Betty was beautiful.  Blond hair, dressed by Boca's top stylist, Betty had money.  Lots of it.  And a face full of sorrow.

"He just told me he was done.  Fell in love with someone else.  I mean, after twenty-five years of marriage, this SOB would only associate with people making two million a year and up.  Then he met HER!  Of course, this wasn't his first.  It would be his last.  He dumped me."

Nearly every word out of Betty's mouth referred to money.  The top dog trainer, trained Israel security dogs she said.  And the fabulous house in Boca Raton.  A snobby community.  She had no friends there.  Hated it.  Her rotund sister was back in the U.S. after decades moving about Europe and the Middle East.  Her husband had been an Ambassador.  Betty was excited at the thought of living near her.  They hadn't been close in years.

"I mean, with all his work, his contacts, his power, he even thought to bring ME a gift. ME.  I didn't realize he was such a dear man.  Boy, could MY sister pick 'em."

I just listened while Betty spilled her life about.  She wasn't interested in hearing anything from me.  Still reliving the drama.

"But I got him.  Got his money.  I don't care.  I got more than half. I don't want to go back to Boca.  I am a people person.  It is lonely there.  I am tired of being lonely.  Two years now."

Betty and I had much in common.  Though ever so different about how we...what we choose to do with the cards we are dealt.  I kept reminding her, "she is the one she has been waiting for."  I wonder if she will get it.  Maybe after she receives her dividend check from her financial advisor.  After another trip to Bloomies.  And Neiman Marcus.  And...