secret vices

My very good friend is smart.  Harvard undergrad. Wharton grad. She is sophisticated, well-read, and versed in more topics than most.  She was President of a big division of a major company; is on the Board of Harvard Medical School; sits on another board for a New England Bank; and is part of a newly-elected Governor's team. She is, by any standard, an accomplished person.

We have been close friends for over 30 years. I know her well.  But recently I've learned two things about her that I did not know.

Not too long ago she admits her love for romance novels. "I like a book with a good love story too," I tell her.  It turns out that she's not talking about books like Wuthering Heights or even Love Story.  No. She's referring to the kind of book with covers like these:

It's a surprising revelation.

Then today, we are talking about yesterday's thrilling Super Bowl Game.  I am sure that any guy overhearing us would think we sound like third graders trying to sound smart about international politics.  But thanks to knowledgeable TV broadcasters and astute sports writers, we have quickly accumulated knowledge.  We know what a slant is. We know the significance of the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. We even understand why Pete Carroll's decision to throw a pass play vs. having Marshawn Lynch run the ball was a monumentally bad idea.  In the middle of our discussion, M suddenly yells, "Hold on. Hold on."  "What? What?"  I'm thinking something happened.  Something serious,  Like maybe her husband cut himself chopping onions.  Or maybe an important call is coming through.  I start to talk and she cuts me off, "Shush.  I need about 20 seconds."  And then I hear her shouting out random words.  "Carrots."  "Kidney."  "Paper Clips."  

I hear the TV in the background.  Finally she says, "I should be on that show.  I get the #1 audience answer every single time."  Family Feud.  My smart friend's favorite show.  Her other secret vice.

I think we all have hidden secrets, some bigger than others.  And if your close friend's love for romance novels and mindlessTV shows are all you don't know about them, then you know them pretty well.