MY WINDFALL MOMENT — by Steve Nadis
Yesterday night, while shopping at the 7-11 (where else?), I impulsively purchased a “Mass Millions” lottery ticket upon seeing a sign saying the jackpot was on order of $250 million. In the hour before the numbers were drawn, I became incredibly generous, experiencing my own rare “windfall moment,” to borrow a phrase from Windfall Woman (see link at right). During that interval, I decided my wife could jettison her membership at our downtrodden YMCA (practically right next door to our downtrodden 7-11) and get a membership at the fancy Harvard Square health club we cannot afford–a place so extravagant, so decadent, that they give you two towels upon entering, even if you don’t want them. (Personally, I don’t feel comfortable in a place like that.) My older daughter was going to get a new Junie B. Jones “novel” and my younger daughter was going to get a new Kipper DVD (that’s Kipper the dog–her current fave who has recently overtaken her previous fave, Little Bear the bear).
Yes, I was going to do all these things and more–maybe even treat myself to a show–until reality came crashing down at 11:15 p.m. Not one of my numbers was right. (What are the odds of that?) And, all too quickly, I went back to being my usual penny-pinching self. I only hope my wife enjoyed that hour of fantasizing about the fancy gym that gives out two towels and has body lotion in the locker room. And hair dryers. It’s nice to dream.
Posted by
at
17:42:39
Everyone thinks about what they’d do if they win the money. It’s human nature. But most people think of better things.
Hey Burt. It’s great to hear from you! Promise me, please, that you’ll never lose your edge.
Snake, I too have often found myself overwhelmed by my own magnanimity with Lottey funds I had yet to possess.
I see I am not alone in the fantasy spending of lottery jackpots. I cannot recall how many boats, beach cottages, new cars, etc., i have “owned.”
For a while, the houses were getting bigger and bigger. Now the acreage is increasing with each jackpot. Of course it would help if I actually bought lottery tickets!
*sigh*
It’s a universal feeling. A lottery ticket in hand always unlocks a secret box of hope and wishful planning.
Dreaming is good (but I reckon winning is better).
Thanks for the thoughts. Most of you dream bigger than me. And I thought two towels was too much…
For several Super-Bowls, my step-children and I made t-shirts that said “Welcome Publisher’s ClearingHouse” and Superbowl (xxvii through xxx)
We thought it would be funny to wear the t-shirts when the PCH crew arrived to present us our check.
Well, one year, apparently my son took the “You are already a winner” to heart. At the end of the SuperBowl when they televised the winner, he started crying. I always knew our chances were slim. But I guess I express that well enough. He was so bummed by the fact that we didn’t win.
Oh what a terrible mother I was.
I still have my shirts packed away.
MsAmber
I haven’t met Ed McMahon yet either. I hope he gives me some warning so I can get some of the piles of paper off my floor before the TV crew gets here.
Nothing ventured…..nothing gained. If you aren’t working on something to “head” you toward a windfall, you won’t get it. At least having the chance is a step toward it. I always have three windfall opportunities (even after my big one) in the works. Keep trying buddy. Seriously.