$700 MILLION!!

$700 million. Wow. That is a ton of money – okay, I am not sure how much it weighs, but it would be a lot. That is the current listed amount for this coming drawing for the lottery. Trying to wrap my head around that number is crazy. So, I will make it an easier number with which to work. If the winner takes the cash value, he/she would receive $428.4 million. If the winner choices payments then the number goes to $24.1 million. Let’s make it a smaller number since the government will take their cut. By current estimations the full pot would be approximately $257 million or annually at $14.5 million. Oh yes, those numbers are much easier for my brain.

How many readers have thought about that check being written out with their name on the Pay To: line? What would you do with it? How would it change your life? Would it be worth the price your life would pay? I recently had lunch with a dear friend, and we discussed this topic. The one thing about being a person who likes to write is that your brain runs through so many different scenarios and outcomes.

Of course the first thing that comes to mind is how I would break the news to my employers that my services would no longer be required. In my head, I believe that I am such a nice person that I would work through the rest of the school year. I walk around with my head held high knowing that I would finish off all of my current responsibilities. The money would not alter my work ethic. Honest – it wouldn’t.

My imagine also puts me working every day, after leaving the office, on my writings and being able to author a number of books. It is amazing. Winning the lottery turns me into a Pulitzer prized winning author. The money must be magical.

Next I start planning out the living arrangements. The house changes size and location with every passing moment. I think of us staying in the same place, staying in the same city but a different house, moving into Burbank so my daughter is closer to her friends, and finding a place totally off the grid and with no mailing address. It all depends on the time of day, what has happened, what I am doing, how much I don’t like people, and other factors when my thoughts wander.

Finally I think about how we can help out others. I think of our families and how to divide up the winnings. I think of current charities and creating a charity or two to help people. I think of how difficult it would be to manage such things and decide to hire somebody. Hey, that is a win-win. We would be helping a lot of people while at the same time giving somebody a full time job.

I think of so many things. Then I talk to my daughter and I hang my head.

My little one went with me before the New Year to buy some tickets. She asked why we were buying a ticket. I tried to explain what the lottery is and how it works. Her eyes lit up. I THOUGHT I could sense her dreams running through her head.

I asked her if she would want to move. At first she said yes. Then she thought about it and didn’t want to lose her friends across the street. Then I heard a gasp. I prepared for the list of things she would want.

“Daddy. We could help so many people in the community. We can give food to the homeless and build them homes. We could buy clothes for children. We can buy things for my school. We can help so many people.”

Not once did she talk about buying things for herself. She didn’t want toys, games, or even – the one thing she always talks about – a cell phone. This eight year-old only thought about how such money could be used for good. I smiled on the outside, I shrank on the inside. My daughter is a better person than I am.

So tomorrow, or today depending on when you read this, we will be going out and buying our chance at luck. We will hope for a win. And………if by chance we win, we will help people. Of course we will enjoy life, but we will take the attitude of our daughter and make sure some good could come from this.

Oh yeah. She still won’t get a cell phone, but she will get some toys.

 

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