Alon vs. The Rich Kids

I called a few friends from my IDC days who have left their Israeli lives to live a life filled with opportunity. Gemma moved to London just a few months ago. When I saw her last, we got drunk off our asses at her Goodbye celebrations at the Carlton. Today, She's driving a mini Cooper, Roof down, with a mutual friend of ours - Maya.

Have you lost your minds? I yell as my first gesture. Its freezing! Now get out and give me a hug! Gemma gives me a big hug and her bare arms wrap around my four layers of clothing (not including scarf, hat and gloves). Maya lets me in to the 2 door car. And we're off!

This is the most Expensive street in London! Maya tells me from the front seat. We pass by Castles, mansions, Forts, etc... One of the houses actually wrote "Royal Mansion" on its pretentious entrance. At first I thought congress sits in these houses. But no, just your simple elite family. 29 rooms, 13 bathrooms for a single family (made-up estimate).

Leaving the Gigantic houses we approached MarlyBone to have lunch with another friend of ours, Ilan. Ilan came with two of his friend (one of whom was Rafi Ginat's son). We sat down at the Posh restaurant LUC (capital letters, no K, no E. Just... LUC). What the fuck! Lets get the Burger! We all caught up and found ourselves out the door and in the nearest shopping store. I found gloves that were so pricy, they could actually support me for 2 weeks (not kidding). Pants that would have me taking a second job to pay for. And random french literature for the thematic affect.

I walked out of there and announced Man, I feel poor. But I didn't feel bad. I didn't feel the strong urge to buy that comfy shirt with the Rugby letters on it for 265 Pounds. I mean I guess it would be nice. But I'm warm, fashionable (i think), and comfortable. I'll stick to picking up the clothing that fall out of Allan Billig's closet.

Well, after a nice meal and simple afternoon , I got dropped off by the ladies and got back to work. Its nice to see their new lives. How just a few months ago Gemma had a happy life in Israel and today she has a job, a social life, and resources to lead a new and better life. The grasp Israel had on her vanished from her eyes. I could see that it was gone. As if it were just a part of her life. A part of her life that she will not return to. It was calming to know that its so easy...