Note to self: Don't judge people according to their jobs and/or lack thereof.

I am way too easily impressed by the stature of one's career. I guess it stems from my desire to get accepted into medical school, which, by the way, is going to be hard work. In case you haven't heard, medical schools only accept the creme de la creme, and I'm not too sure if I qualify to such an elite status. So when you tell me that you're a doctor, or a lawyer, or a professor of physics at MIT, I am instantly wowed. I have been witness to the level of difficulty required to attain such positions. In essence, my opinion is directly correlated with the level of education that one has attained. Yes, this is a very very wrong and close-minded way for me to think and I am quite ashamed to even admit that I have the tendency to think this way.

But rest assured, I have fallen off of my high horse.

Several months ago, I began dating a guy that I will refer to as "Dr. Rad." As indicated, he is indeed a doctor. Specifically, he is a Radiologist, hence the moniker. I was instantly attracted to this man's intelligence, wittiness, sense of sarcasm, and drive. "This man has goals, " I told myself. He knew what he wanted to do in life, and he dedicated himself to getting there. He worked hard and it payed off. After all, only the best of the best medical students make it as Radiologists. And that's exactly what I want in a doctor. But at the same time, during his quest to become the best of the best, he had become the cockiest mofo to ever walk the face of the earth. Convinced, he was, that anything I did, he could do better. Not only that, he has devoted so much of his life to school, he had forgotten how to be, well, human. He was insensitive, blunt, condescending, and BORING. So yes, this man had, what I had in my mind, the end all/be all of jobs, but it didn't take all that long for me to figure out that "the job doesn't make the man," and I quickly dropped him like a bad habit.

Conversely, I have become friends with someone (Guy #6) who has been "jobless" for the past 2 years of his life. And even though I thoroughly enjoy this person's company, I have to admit that I looked down on him, based purely on his job status.

But a recent turn in events from this past weekend has made my whole entire opinion of this person change completely. Ironically, my change in attitude stems from my own stupidity and lack of judgment. He and I made a few poor decisions (to put things lightly) this past weekend that ended with some very drastic consequences. And even though most people want to put the brunt of the blame on him, for the events that unfolded, I must admit that I am equally to blame in the entire situation. Me. The one with the great job and education. Equally to blame for the wrong decisions. As he. The one without the job.

And consequently, recent turn in events have been the catalyst in his (and my) decision to take it easy for awhile. (read: consume less C2H5OH.) Which, in turn has opened my eyes to an entirely different him. The person that I once wrote off, has become delightfully and surprisingly witty, and clever, and sarcastic, and intelligent. Well, I shouldn't say that he became these things, because one just can't become witty, and clever, and sarcastic, and intelligent over night, just like that. Obviously, these qualities were there all along, but they were masked by layers of Patron, Jaeger-bombs, and Budlight, which were further layered by my clouded, conceited judgement of his lack of job.

Moral of story? There are several:
1. The hardest lessons don't come from school.
2. The smartest people don't necessarily have the "smartest" jobs.
3. Don't judge a book by it's cover.
4. Don't drink cheap tequila.

I write this all, not for you, but as a reminder for myself.