Rich and Famous? No thanks.

Did you go to school with anyone famous? Me neither. I know a couple of people who have been "minor" celebrities, but the big time? Naw. I have met some famous people. I met Al Capp when I was in college. Somehow I was chosen to introduce him when he spoke. He was a crabby, dirty old man. I was host to Barry Goldwater when he came to speak at the elementary school where I taught in Gilbert, Arizona. He was one of the classiest, funniest, most humble and charming people I ever met. Polar opposites.

At sometime most people probably daydream about being famous. I know I have. Most people think of famous as in "rich and famous". I think I'd like the rich part, but the famous part seems to have a lot that isn't good. Would you want to be Donald Trump? Yuck. There is one creepy dude. How about Paris Hilton. Just what is she anyway?

Even the rich part has catches. I recently watched a two-hour program on the E! channel about lottery winners and how the money destroyed their lives. It was over-the-top with the tragedy of money ruining everyone's lives. I'm sure there are lottery winners who have done just fine.

I think I would like to be "comfortable" as my grandmother would say of people who did not have to work, but I do love teaching. It won't ever make me comfortably rich, or even a little famous. It has brought me a lot of joy, and that's probably most important.