A class apart?

I changed my blog ID from my name to me-and-erring, a clever twist on meandering, thought out by my husband. But when I think about it, of late the name often portrays how I feel. As I take a break from the daily humdrum of regular work life, leaving an existence on the highway and move into irregular work life from home (and the lessening of my social web- often its just my baby and I climbing around in the web), to an existence in the service or even by-lane, I see life and hear conversations from an observer's perspective.

I don't remember what we used to talk about when we were in college or growing up, but from conversations, I distinctly get the feeling that we have grown up. From now on when I use the term 'we', I use it very loosely. I am a part of the 'we' in some contexts and a mere spectator in others (where I am totally left behind and actually "me-and-erring").

I notice that of late, as a peer group we finally seem to be getting a hold on finances or at least giving it importance. The budget interests us; we see ourselves as tax-payers. We see the value in buying a house or investing in property; we don't want to pay rent anymore. We are concerned when the stock market crashes. We figure that instead of buying this or that we could invest the same amount. All in all what seemed very boring at one time, is well....what we now talk about.

That's alright, but often have you noticed that a little devil called snobbery, whether we realise it nor not, ever so subtly pops it's head in, . "Where did you buy that house? In the suburbs? Hmm..we were thinking we'll take the plunge for one in South Mumbai/ Delhi. You haven't bought a plasma TV yet? I guess our 'double income' helps....Haven't you planned that foreign holiday yet....check out my pics on orkut..the one in the Swiss Alps...you should do it sometime... ...I mostly fly business class...I cashed in on my accumulated miles....Its so difficult breaking off from work; my blackberry doesn't help."

I wonder whether it is this innocent banter and sharing of the latest in our lives that later on creates barriers in allowing a broader set of people into our little coterie. Does this lead to a 'class - consciousness' that we didn't recognise earlier when we were in school, college and in the earlier years of work life? Is this how stereotypes are formed?........Is this growing up?

In all our glory...

I was channel hopping the other day when I saw a streaker run across the cricket grounds while India and Australia pitted against each other. It must have been a good laugh for the players and the spectators watching him and all his glory being dragged away from the public eye.

That's when it struck me..the public eye. What really separates us from the streaker? Is it not just our means of gaining the public eye....our way of getting noticed. How different is that from show-casing ourselves at work or climbing on the stage to act, sing or speak or for that matter writing a blog. At the end of the day, aren't we all seeking our own unique space under the sun, our one moment in time?