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Why would you want to be human if you could be God? This question reminds me of one of those final episodes in Fringe where Bishop was worried that he will lose his humanity and, therefore, lose everyone and everything that he ever loved. Wealth and fame seems to rob us of our humanity, too.  They make us feel as if we are above and beyond all. But we are not. Or at least I don’t think we are.

Once I told a friend that I never wish to be rich or famous. That it comes with too many responsibilities and a need of such discipline that I don’t believe I have enough strength to muster.  My friend who couldn’t believe that I was serious said, “don’t think if you keep saying that you will become famous and rich.” I didn’t prolong the topic because I was not sure I could explain myself.

There was not a lot of money when I was growing up. There is still not a lot of money today. But it has always been good. There has always been enough love. When I really needed money for something, it somehow happens that I get it when I need it the most. I really don’t understand how this works, but over the years, I have come to realize that it is best to do the best one can, and worry as little as one can, especially about money. This is of course not easy, but practice helps.

The thing with fame and wealth is that it is like a drug. Once one is addicted, one is highly likely to find oneself wanting more. This perhaps is what Woody Allen tries to portray with Leopoldo in To Rome with Love.  Remember that character who was nobody one day and somebody the next? Then when he became a nobody again, he couldn’t deal with it. I think that is an accurate depiction of what wealth and fame do to a lot of us.  It toys with us and leave us corrupted. Only the very strong can resist it. I don’t know my strength and I don’t wish to be tempted. I prefer worrying about not having enough money than worrying about loosing loads of money. I like walking through the street and having no one give a fig about me; I like to walk with my clothes stained and wrinkled and not make “news” by such actions. I like to be able to remember that I am nothing. To remember that I am only here for a minute; to not get so addicted to being here that I would be so frightened of old age and death.
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Jane