Aliens

OK, my husband works with someone who is taking full advantage of this financial crisis. He stashed away enough cash, and is now buying real estate around the country - in trashy places like Myrtle Beach, Las Vegas, etc., and he proudly reports his new acquisitions to his co-workers. Each time I feel disgusted. I question again why it is we live here, I ask myself if we have anything in common with the people we are surrounded by.

Let us put it this way. If I had money to spare, I would be buying some serious art and travel the world. If I felt the urge to take advantage of the depressed housing markets, I would buy an apartment in Paris and visit it a few times a year. I don't think you could pay me enough to make me vacation on Myrtle Beach and own property in the fake paradise of Las Vegas. Just like I find hamburgers - that epitome of the American culinary art - only marginally edible so to speak - if you have no other choice and you are starving, they will do.

Why is it that I don't have money to spare? Because unlike that person, I do not vacation in a trailer with my family. Because I do travel the world. Because we spend serious money for our children's education while that person sings kudos to a mediocre public school where he sent his kids. Why on earth does he feel that people would admire and envy his business acumen? Because I suppose, most people actually do. As I know now, Americans worship nothing more that the Almighty Green Buck.

I feel like I am surrounded by aliens.