Are You Rich Yet?

After college I worked in film production making commercials - fun ones - for outlet malls with live alligators on stage sets, shooting interviews in stalls at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby.  I got to pick up actors from the airport and drive them to the set - I met OJ and Joe Namath (not friendly), had sweet dinner dates with solo travelers looking for company like Billy Barty (one of the Little People in Wizard of Oz) and Leon Askin (from Hogans Heroes).  Endless nutty situations where every day is different.  A lot like working in real estate.  Later I tried learning what investment bankers do and worked for a crazed Texan who was a genius alcoholic tax lawyer. He used to play guitar with the guys from ZZ Top.  He was super charming and would walk up to people at parties, stick out his hand to shake and say ‘Are you rich yet? with his deep Texas twang.  

 These days I live in an ultra beautiful tiny town in WNC.  Everybody wants to move here from everywhere.  The people who are able to sell their houses and move somewhere else (not so many) put their houses on the market for way more than anyone thought was reasonable just last year.  I keep wanting to ask them “are you rich yet?” Mostly yes, at least temporarily, while they’ve got 10 buyers outbidding each other to buy their houses.  Crazy times.  I definitely feel rich with healthy family and a super interesting life in a beautiful peaceful place. Lots of friends and friendly real people, and no traffic. Grateful and rich just to be here.