Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Powerball madness
Yesterday it would have been possible to win 1.2 billion dollars, which would have been a $500+ million cash out. Of course I bought the winning ticket, which I really did not believe. But if you don’t buy a ticket, what are your chances then? About as good as if you do spend the cash. I held my paper ticket to great riches and said a little prayer over the numbers.
I already had the money spent, mostly on altruistic causes. Like, I would refresh my church’s dwindling cash reserve, but not before I paid off my son’s six figure student loan debt. My favorite charities, The Human Society and Planned Parenthood, would be a million dollars richer. My grandsons would have substantial trusts set aside for them. Other organizations involved in racial justice would see their bottom lines improve. Human Rights outfits would be pleased as well.
I would donate to fight cancer and fund research for mental health. I would give to Chef Andre, who feeds thousands of people who are in great distress. The Nature Conservancy would benefit as would the Sierra Club. I would start scholarship funds in blighted neighborhoods.
All this would still leave a considerable amount of money for my use. I would not quit my job, and Legal Services would get a cash infusion. I would not give up my Prius for a luxury vehicle. To me it’s a luxury to get 50 miles to the gallon. Maybe we would buy a bigger condo, to have room for kids and grandkids to stay in when they visit. Perhaps a vacation beach house would materialize. Not a Mar-a-lago kind of mansion, but definitely beach front property.
Mind you, all of this flashed through my brain as I marveled over the orange slip of paper with numbers all over it. (Apparently I can spend money with lightning speed.) I think the whole point was to impress God with my bountiful nature and thus give my ticket a better chance to be a winner. What could it hurt to be clear about my intentions?
A few minutes ago I checked my ticket against the winning numbers. Not today, Lynn, not today. In fact, no winning ticket was sold for this insane amount of money. Now the pot is up to 1.5 billion dollars, about a $750 million cash out.
I don’t know what makes me think that I have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the lottery. I’ve never had that kind of luck. I had a wonderful friend, who has since left the planet, who would get a “feeling” that it was time to go to one of the riverboat casinos in town. Sure enough, she would win a few thousand dollars when she listened to her gut. Whenever I set a hopeful foot in a gambling place with my little bucket of quarters I am invariable disappointed. That is one thing I can count on – this way of making money is not in my best interests.
However, $1.5 billion is nothing to sneeze at. I’m pretty sure I’ll buy another ticket, pray over it while bragging to God about my generous plans, and wait for Saturday’s drawing. Hope springs eternal.