The Median Sib

As I do most days, I was reading The Education Wonks earlier today, and I saw a  post about Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau that reminded me of an experience I had last year. 

To set the stage, let’s go back two years.  Two years ago I decided I wanted new dishes.  It was a purchase that was long past due since the only dishes I had were the cheapest one I could find at K-Mart years earlier - plain white “diner-style” plates.  So I started looking for some dishes I really REALLY liked.  After a few months, I found a pattern that was perfect - colorful and pretty without being overly feminine. I proceeded to research where I could get them with the least cost.  I ordered them and anxiously awaited their arrival.  They arrived and I unpacked the boxes with anticipation, washed them and put them in my china cabinet and luxuriated in the experience of using such beautiful dishes.  I was thrilled until. . . .

I was watching TV one day last year, and there was a special program about Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau.  You remember - she was the schoolteacher who had an affair with one of her students - a 13-year old boy!  I’ve taught 13-year olds in the past, and believe me, they’re not affair-material.  Obviously MKL had/has major issues.  Nevertheless, Letourneau gave up her marriage and her other children in order to be with this youngster - and served her time in prison for it.  She got out of prison and promptly married her by then legal-age lover.

So as I watched the TV program, they showed Mary Kay and Vili opening wedding gifts - among them many dishes.  And guess what pattern china they had.  Yep - the same as mine!  For some reason that put a major damper on my own enjoyment.  My beautiful dishes didn’t seem quite so wonderful anymore.