Envious Casca?

According to the Bard, old Julius commented of Casca that"he had a mean and hungry look, such men are dangerous!" Well, even my dearest enemies would hesitate to describe me as mean and hungry but I have been wondering that maybe, just maybe, I am a tad bit envious of those fortunate few who occupy those 'ivory towers of wealth and privilege'?

I have not really been a great one for keeping up with the Joneses. Sad to say, nor have I been overly ambitious. I have never really clung grimly to those steep ladders that the upwardly mobile make a fetish of climbing so assiduously - so that they may, at some stage, charge $6000 shower curtains, their dry cleaning bills and flowers for their trophy girl friends, to their expense accounts.

But I do resent it when I over-hear people, who have a car (sometimes cars) at their disposal 24x7, say how much they enjoyed one solitary auto ride on a holiday - and they didn't have to bargain with the driver either! Wow!!! How wonderful! So very different from my twice - daily experiences and altercations with the same charioteers with the sun beating down mercilessly on me!

Does that comment make me envious?

And then there are those who complain that their domestic help has taken off suddenly - I commiserate till I find out that he/she is one of half a dozen. isn't that inconvenient?

There! Not only do I sound envious, I sound positively bitchy!!!

So what's my point exactly? I wish people would stop telling me how lucky I am to be back after 17 years in the land where my every need will be looked after, where I don't have to bestir myself to do anything (except watch movies, play bridge or socialise every day), where I will not have to slog it out in subways and buses and can happily buy clothes and jewellery without blinking an eye lid.

All I have to say is sure thing! Would any of these ivory tower denizens like to change places with me? In my not so high blocks of concrete and brick - surrounded by garbage, holy cows and 'coloney ka kuthas!'?