The Lottery

T’s* View
ls there anyone who didn't buy a lottery ticket last week? With the winnings up to $7 million, it seems everyone and his brother wanted a chance at that grand prize. Until then, I myself had no interest in the Lotto games, but it was like a raging fever when the prize went up so high, and everyone I know caught the Lotto bug, including me. And, of course, with a chance on the big winnings came the speculation of how the money would be spent if won. "What's the first thing that you would buy if you had seven million dollars?" is a question I asked a lot of people last week, and it was interesting to note that the answers varied according to the age of those questioned. The younger people's "vision of sugar plums" usually included a showy, expensive car, a lot of good times and finally, maybe save some of it. The slightly older group, or young marrieds, thought first of a house, then a car, then of saving for their children's education, and financial security. The next age group, not quite newlyweds but not senior citizens yet either, seemed to put travel first on their list, then possibly a new home, and a good chunk would go into savings. The oldest person questioned, a 76-year-old grandmother, said she'd buy some extravagant things for her children and grandchildren, and put the rest of the money away in trust for them. - There were a few of the younger people who said they'd give money to their relatives or friends, or people in need, but they were in the minority. However, I think that's only because the question was hypothetical and the emphasis was on "what would you buy for yourself" or "what's your dream desire if money were no object." If fantasy came to reality, I'm sure lots of people would share with their families or donate to charity (if for no other reason than to save on their income tax.) But while all of us can dream about how easy life would be if only we had more money, someone who did win a big sum wrote to Ann Landers not long ago, telling her how miserable her life was ever since she won all that money. Requests came from people she knew and people she didn't know, who thought it only fair that she share her good fortune with them. I was telling the sad story to a friend of mine who was buying a dozen lottery tickets, but she just came back with "That's okay. I know it would just be a new set of problems for me, but I'm ready for a different set now anyway. If nothing else, it'll be a change and I'm willing to risk it." So what do you think? Is winning a bundle worth all the problems it could bring on? I guess I think like my friend does—I'm perfectly willing to try it. Just think...a house that doesn't constantly need fixing, a professional decorating job with gorgeous furnishings, (more than one bathroom), a car that doesn't stall every time the weather is rainy, cold or damp, a garage to put the car in, nice clothes, no worries about bills of any kind, a chance to travel with the whole family, etc., etc., etc. Yes, I think I'd be willing to give it a try.
 *Terri the Typesetter
 T-Views ~ Week Of April 1, 1984