My Lady of the Lantern

Money dripped from this little girl's tongue. She talked about several things, and I am quoting 95 percent of our talk: Her pendant, and where it had come from Her hairband and where that had come from Her heart-shaped make-up mirror, and her lip gloss (Please!!!) The new furniture she was getting done for her room How her microwave was not working and she wished her mother got it repaired soon enough The discount coupons she had for a reputed local hotel (and that it belonged to her friend's father) Her baby bro playing with his father's premium brand pen. And I told hubby that this was the fruit of 'new money'. DH's response: "Oh Come on, they have had it for seven years now, it is not new anymore." I still think that it is the 'new money' speaking. Old money is more graceful! ^WiseGuy^

Recently I was in a conversation with this small girl (7-8 years old) and the small talk included asking about who her friends in school were. She goes to a nice school - nice as in expensive and difficult to get into. Me: So who are your friends in school? Kiddo: A, B and C. Do you know what A, B and Cs parents do? Me: No. Kiddo: A's father has PPP hotel, and if I go to her house in the afternoon, I can eat food delivered from PPP. Isn't that great? Me: Yes! And what about others.... Kiddo: B's father has a mobile phone gallery...and you know, C's father is blah blah blah. Me: Oh wow! It must be nice. Kiddo: Yeah, B totally gives me models (sample pieces) of the latest handsets, you know! Me: Great! But what strikes me in the conversation is that this girl is aware of not just who her friends are, but also of the relative wealth of the friends.... Make no mistake, this girl is very sweet..but she seems to be having money seeping into her conversations more often than ...

Time: Today Morning, when we were pseudo-ready to jump out of bed. Situation: A financial review of 2008 (not exactly a dream year in a lot of respects) DH: Mmm… and the price of that land is down x percent, and the real estate rates on that house have slipped y percent….and z month’s salary has been invested into the share market, so I can’t make a deposit out of it and can’t touch it for p years…. BTW, would you be doing IVF w/ICSI again this year ? Me: ( Mentally- Damn right, I will ). Of Course. But we are not to do anything till March, you know! DH: Last time it cost us $$$$$, and still there is no guarantee that it will work out this time. Me: ( Mentally – Yeah, but what if it does? ) There is no guarantee, but I am doing it. Momentary Silence… DH: There will be no savings this year. The last statement is too severe. But I did not want to cut in and spoil DH’s sense of financial calculation superiority complex . Frankly, I know that IF treatments are pinching us financially...