I've written before about my dreams of winning the lottery. I could day dream for hours, thinking of how I would spend my fortune. Over the years, my plans have changed drastically. I no longer dream of the mansions, the exotic places, or the lavish life-style that I would be living.
Where I used to dream of the huge estate I would own with 7 bedrooms and as many bathrooms and the finest furnishings I could acquire, I now know that I would be happy with a three bedroom house and the furniture that I own now.
Where I used to dream of the huge estate I would own with 7 bedrooms and as many bathrooms and the finest furnishings I could acquire, I now know that I would be happy with a three bedroom house and the furniture that I own now.
I wouldn't go out and buy the most luxurious sports car I could find. I'd be fine with just a great car that looks nice and runs great. Instead of the $400,000 Bentley, I'd be happy with a fun Jeep!
I've read articles and even seen shows on TV about "the curse of the lottery". They are depressing stories of how people lost their fortune by spending it on homes, cars, clothes and mostly drugs and partying. One 16 year old girl in England won a lottery of $3 million. She spent close to $1 million on designer clothes alone. I think I could come up with a kick butt wardrobe for about $5000.
Experts say that money won't make you happy. I believe that to an extent. If you are unhappy to begin with, you'll probably be miserable after you win your big bucks. Miserable, but rich. But I look at my life and find that I am very happy with my life. My husband is awesome, my children are great, I even love my job(s). I have to say though, that I'm sure I'd be just a tad happier if money were not an object.
So, let's pretend that I've just won the lottery! What would I do? Obviously, the opportunities would be endless. But I'll pick just five. I'll try to make them my top five. I'm sure something else more important will pop into my head later, but here they are for now.
1. Bob. I would do any thing and every thing in my power to help our brother fight cancer. Maybe it would mean getting the very best doctors, or getting him to a cancer center. I'm not sure what it might be, but if there is some thing more that could be done, I'd take care of it!
2. Plan some sort of fun family reunion. Our mom will be 70 next year. There have only been two times that all of us siblings have been together at the same time. Once for Barb's wedding and then when our Dad died. So I would love to try and plan something like a week at Disney World or a cruise...Somewhere that everyone, siblings, spouses and children, could all get together!
3. Buy a house. Not a huge house. Something just big enough that we would have adequate room when guests come to visit. So a 4 bedroom house should do it. I would like our house to have a view of the water though.
4. Health Exams. I would arrange for my husband and I to have extremely thorough tests done. I'd like to find out why his shoulder hurts all of the time (and fix it). I'd like to find out if there are better drugs to treat his high blood pressure. The list is endless...
5. Take care of my Mom and loved ones. I'd like to pay off their houses, or take care of bills that cause them stress. Or help them start a business... Again, there are so many possibilities. It would be nice to make their lives a little easier.
Okay, I guess that's my top five for now. I just realize that I left out buying our dream boat. I could make that number 6. I plan on winning the lottery tonight, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Please feel free to share your top 5!
Okay, I guess that's my top five for now. I just realize that I left out buying our dream boat. I could make that number 6. I plan on winning the lottery tonight, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Please feel free to share your top 5!
SIS Bren
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14 comments:
My Five:
1. Of course help our brother Bob.
2. Help others with their bills.
3. A cottage style house set deep in the woodlands.
4. A chauffeur, because I hate to drive.
5. My own private jet so I can fly out to visit my sisters whenever I want.
I always talk about what I am going to do if I win the lottery. There is only one problem though... I never play!!!
But if I did...(in no particular order)
1. Broken record - help Bobby
2. Pay off everything
3. Open way chic restaurant for Omar
4. Set aside plenty for the girls
5. I have always had this vision of being able
to keep it secret from my loved ones just long enough to surprise them. I would love to secretly watch each one of my siblings, mom, my best friend, etc get special gifts delivered to their house. And I mean awesome gifts!!! Then I would come up and give them each a check to do whatever they wished.
Brandy, Omar is an awesome cook. He defintly needs his own restaurant.
I'm waiting for my awesome gift.
I guess maybe I should start buying some tickets huh?!?!
My top five:
1. a nice house in a great neighborhood (without the weird neighbor we have now across the street) with room for a HUGE library
2. my own personal chauffeur so I don't have to depend on my parents to drive me around since I'm not supposed to drive myself these days (sooo annoying)
3. all the books I want to fill up said library
4. a beach house or luxury cabin in the mountains for summers
5. nice-sized donations to several charities of choice
Hello B.J.,
A chauffer would be nice. I don't know about the private jet though, I hate to fly. But I'm sure I will be doing a lot of globe trotting with all the money I'll be winning, so maybe I should think about the private jet!
SIS Bren
Hi Brandy,
I agree about the surprise thing. I always thought it would be cool to have brand new cars drive up in every one's drive way.
Omar should definitely have a restaurant. Yum yum.
SIS Bren
Hi Tori,
I think a library would be great. Think of all the time you would have for reading...
Sounds like you have a creepy neighbor. Make sure you have pepper spray handy, or maybe even a stun gun!
SIS Bren
Hello and greetings from Wyoming! What an incredibly beautiful part of the country this is. Breathtaking.
I have a lot of plans for my lottery winnings but like Brandy, I never play.
I'll try to list 5:
1) Bobby!
2) A nice house in the south surrounded by family.
3) horses, dogs, 4-wheelers, bon fires!
4) A great wardrobe
5) A chance to work on my writing full time.
That's all for now folks! I'll check in later.
SIS Barb
Barb,
I hope you have an excellent time in Wyoming. Sounds beautiful. In about an hour I'll find out whether or not we are millionaires!
Wish me luck,
SIS Bren
You sound like me Bren.
I love my house but I would probably add on so I had more room when guests came--I have three bedrooms but one is now my office. I know I'd spend money on my property. Build a really nice whelping house for my Great Danes and better and bigger pens (though they're not tiny now--300' X 300')Might even get another house to escape to in a warmer climate. Maybe.
For sure I'd help pay off homes and such for the sibs and make sure my mom is taken care of. She's 72 and has a great husband but still...
I know I would take my son and do some travel to Europe. I'd also pick out some areas in the US. I think it would be good for him to see. It made a world of differnce to me as a kid.
I'm currently in need of a car. It would have to be nice but able to handle a mile long gravel road I live on. Hubs has a jeep Cherokee. Meh, it's okay but not my favorite vehicle as far as comfort goes.
I do have several charities I'd contribute to. My nephew died of cancer at 23 and I always contribute to the Cancer Society. And I have a dear friend fighting breast cancer right now so she'd be tops on the list of helping.
Funny how our dreams stay simple. Perhaps we just learn what's more important in life as we gain some years.
Hi Sia,
It is funny how what seemed so important to me 10 years ago seems ridiculous now. Certain things have always been important, like family and health. I'll trade the mansion I've always dreamed of for a much smaller abode. I'll be traveling anyway.
Cancer is such a horrible disease and I commend you for your contributions. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your dear friend.
SIS Bren
Brenda, I'm not surprised that we share a realistic approach for winning the lottery. Our lists are quite alike, it's about covering your assets and assuring everything is good before you splurge. Here's my five:
1.) Pay off college
2.) Cover any family debt
3.) The house for my parents
4.) The house for myself (I'm thinking Ireland!)
5.) For fun - an aston martin. My dream car :)
I actually had a dream that I won an aston martin last night but then I woke up. Boy it was a rough day walking around without an aston martin to drive. Oh well, it will be. Oh yes, it will be mine (eventually)!
The neighbor across the street isn't so much creepy as... well, I guess he could be creepy. But mostly his place looks like the worst slum in India. Some of our other neighbors aren't any great shakes about their places being neat and tidy but this guy makes them look like palaces. *g*
Of course, I've also heard he's been in jail, though I'm not sure for what.
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