Sarah Marie: Lowly Sidekick

Today I had a strange experience at work.

Each day I sit at the front desk for 30 minutes while Meghan takes her lunch break. Today, as I sat at the desk minding my own business, a wiry-haired, creepy-looking fellow approached me and began to engage me in conversation, despite my best efforts to the contrary.

"Hi there. You caught many prospective students today?"
"Um, no. I've only been sitting here for five minutes."
"Oh, well, hmm, what's your name?"
"Sarah."
"I'm ____, from the Biology department."
"Uh. Nice to meet you."
"You a Gordon student?"
"Well, I just graduated."
"Ohhhh. Ahhh. You working in Admissions now?"
"No. Just for the summer. Actually, just until I find something else."
"What was your major?"
"Music performance."
"Mmm, hmm, mmmhmm. What do you play?"
"Violin."
"You any good?"
"Uh. Depends on your standard of comparison, I suppose."
"Well, compared to other Gordon students, then."
"Yah, I guess so."
"You gonna get a job in music?"
"Well, I'd like to. A degree in music doesn't exactly lead straight to a high-paying job, though. We'll see what works out."
"Hmm, well, I do a fair bit of music myself."
"Oh. That's nice."
"Mm hmm, yes, yes, it is. I sing in the ___ ___ ___ Men's Choir." (The most horrible choir imaginable, to whose singing I am occasionally subjected because the director attends my church.)
"Oh. Hmm. That's good. Maybe you know my fiance, Nathan ____. He accompanies the choir when they sing at our church."
"Oh wow, hmm, wow, yes, he is quite remarkable. He is amazing. He just blows me right away with his talent. What a talent. What a guy. Yeah, yeah, he'll have a career in music, you watch and see. What a talent. I see what you mean about standard of comparison -- I'm sure you're not as good as he is."
"Um, right. Well, he is very wonderful."
"Wow, yes, he's just incredible. To watch that fellow play is something else. And to see his mind work. He just improvises some things, adds things here and there, what a talent. What a musician."
"Yes, he's terrific."
"So, you're with him? Are you gonna marry him?"
*holds up left hand* "Think so."
"Oh, ah, I see. Well, lucky you. What a talent. You'll be his helper. That's just great."

Here we have it, ladies and gentlemen. A perfect stranger (albeit one with no social skills whatsoever) has confirmed my long-standing knowledge of my utter inferiority to FavoriteBoy, my worthlessness as a musician, and ultimately, the fact that I am just a lowly sidekick -- a supporting role in the drama that is the life of FavoriteBoy.

You know, I'm happy and proud of him being so amazing. I'm just not always sure how I feel about others treating me as his stage-hand.

This reminds me of the time when I went to speak with our esteemed chair of the music department about grad school options. I asked him if he was familiar with any good programs, how many Gordon grads went on to grad school in music, and how people handled financial aid, stipends, etc. with living expenses. His response was, "Oh, hey, go to the University of Michigan. Yes, that's the place for you. They have a terrific piano and organ department, and Nathan would do so well there."

How awkward. You'd think people could at least pretend not to notice how drastically inferior I am.