If I were talking to George Clooney right now...

... I'd ask him where to go in Cincinnati for some good chili! (I know where I'm going with this thought.)

Because, for one, I actually am driving to Cincinnati Saturday to take Abby and several of her friends to see some group play at the 20th Century Theater. Sandy is going with me and we are going to go someplace and hang out and have some chili and wait for the girls. And, George Clooney IS actually from Cincinnati.

But the reason I say that is I've been thinking this week that in this country at least, there is some weird unhealthy feeling that somebody who has money and fame is qualitatively different -- not just lucky, or hard-working, or good-looking -- but somehow better.

My friend at work and I were talking about how a bunch of articles online recently kept saying stuff about how George Clooney's girlfriend Sarah Larson is a former cocktail waitress, and how lucky she is to have a boyfriend like him.

Well, who made the rule that a person's job defines them? A person could be rich and famous and still be totally depressing or obnoxious or tedious to hang around with, or a person could be a waitress and be fun and optimistic and smart and make everyone around feel good.

And I think there is a strong tinge of sexism in saying how lucky, lucky, lucky that woman is -- maybe Clooney's thinking how lucky he is!

And, I've skimmed the Time magazine article on George Clooney that ran last week, in which the writer paints Clooney as a good guy, but is somehow nonetheless amazed that somebody like Clooney would actually come over to his house and spend an evening. I guess he was making the point that Clooney is a regular guy, which may mean that Clooney has a lot more common sense than a lot of people.

I have friends who have very little and friends who have a lot. And I don't think that either condition makes one a better or worse person. Or more fun to hang out with.

And while I enjoy hearing Amalia's tales of what famous person may have come into the Starbucks where she works, I don't think that actually meeting them would make my life better.

(And I know that Amalia is a better actress than 99 percent of the women at the Oscars the other night, and when she has her makeup done by a pro, she is just as glamorous and more...)

And that's why I say, if I were sitting next to Clooney right now, I'd ask him where to get some good chili in Cincinnati, or I might mention that our family always had the "50-50 Club" on tv at home when I was little (his dad worked on that show), or maybe even ask him to tell me what being in Darfur was like, and what he thinks a regular person can do.

But I wouldn't expect that the conversation would be better or would mean more than talking to any friend.