I listen to West Wing re-runs in the morning on Bravo. I’ve seen them all so I don’t watch the screen, but tend to chores. I was busy in the kitchen when it ended and the chatter turned mindless. It was “Millionaire Matchmaker”. Please explain why millionaires, who, traditionally, are concerned that their romantic connections may only be interested in them for their money, and boo-hoo, they want to be loved for themselves, would participate in a matchmaking effort where this is a given from the start. I poked my ahead around the corner and Ed was sitting on the sofa in what appeared to be a hypnotic trance. “What’s going on,” I asked, “are you watching in horrified fascination?” He was. There was one great line and I repeat it here because it is priceless. The matchmaker, I think her name is Susan, said, “Beauty fades but dumb is forever.” I think I’ll have a T shirt made with that on it. (I have a list of sayings I threaten to have put on T shirts.)

Lately, the only time this program runs, it’s a repeat, so I don’t think they are making any new ones. The millionaires they find are usually not truly appealing, some are nerdy, some of the nerdy ones are still full of themselves just as if they looked like Tom Cruise. And the good-looking ones are self-involved, egotistical and want perfect tens for their date, because that’s what they deserve, feel life owes them. Some come on the show thinking they will find Miss Right and finally make a commitment, when the commitment thing, or lack thereof, is what has been messing them up all along. So forget it will happen here either.

I am reminded of the classic joke. A woman at a party is admiring the huge diamond ring worn by another guest. “This is the Biederman diamond,” she is told, “but it comes with a curse.” “Oh my, what is the curse?” asks the woman. “Biederman,” is the reply.

The women range from a truck driver’s wet dream to a barracuda business woman, whom, Ed said, didn’t want a he-man, but a wimp she could control. Not necessarily, I am thinking. She probably tries to dominate every man she meets precisely so that the one who stands up to her and doesn’t give a damn, is the one she will respect. Anyway, that’s my guess.

The excuse, of course, is that it’s just as easy to love a rich man. I think the qualities that it takes to succeed in a big way aren’t always the ones that make you a great husband and father, not that it can’t happen.

All of this is historical musing. I’m allowed. And, anyway, a million doesn't go that far any more.

xx, Teal