What If I Won the Lotto...

All week it has been hard to avoid...news stories...news papers...all with the same images of people lining up to buy their lotto tickets. Some lines are short...some around the corner and some hours long with travelers that have crossed state lines to get in on this "lotto mania". Well today I found myself amidst those folks and I have to admit...as silly as it may be...or as small of a chance I have (1 and 176 million is said to be the chances I have) I am a little giddy just thinking about what I would do if I won the lotto!! Here is my list...and I know you have yours ha!

Well first things first...or course debt would no longer be a word my family knows or understands...of course the mortgages, credit, loans, STUDENT LOANS (grrrr) and cars would all be paid off (duh). Then the kids (my nieces and nephews) would be taken care of...100,000 scholarships for each of them for when they plan to go to school or buy a home. So yea...yea...yea all the serious stuff...done...HANDLED!

Now for the fun! Of course my life would consist of travel...and that would be shared with my family...everyone will need a passport because we will be seeing this world!! Of course an Airstream for me and Nick...Peter and Tania if they want one too!! My parents would just have to point at a map and tell me where they want to go...of course I already know my mom will want to make her first stop outside the Good Morning America window in New York City! :) Nick's parents would have all the same opportunities to travel...I would take Nick's dad to a taping of American Idol and Nicks mom someplace she has never been (with this lady this is tough, she has been everywhere) Tim would get a long vacation that he so deserves...probably send him to some NASCAR races with my dad. And Bill and his family as well as Michelle Sophia and Michael would enjoy a great family vacation! This is just the broad notion of what I would like to do for my family...there are endless things that I want to do for them.

As for myself...no student loans would be enough haha...but a loft in Seattle and a home here would be just fine thanks. I guess what I would hope for in this little mega millions day dream of mine is that I would hope that if I were...or if anyone were so lucky to get this fortune that there would be something good from it. Not to say that being out of debt and making wishes of your family and friends come true is not a good thing...it guess maybe the word I am looking for is...change...

While growing up my dads wish, whenever he played the lotto, was to open an animal sanctuary. This was mostly influenced by the fact of us taking in almost any stray we saw...there was even a time when a litter of kittens was dropped off on our front porch because they knew we were the "animal house"...haha! He always dreamed of buying a huge piece of land...employ vets and caretakers and just save any animal that needed saving. It was such a beautiful vision (because I am a huge animal lover and have fallen into my fathers footsteps of picking up pups in the street) it was so pure.

So I guess while I am sitting here thinking of all the wonderful things that would happen if I won the lotto...I hope to see some change come from this frenzy...this "mania"! Because this is truly a fortune...one that could not be spent in a lifetime...one that can change so many lives, which is why we play in the first place. All of us who went out there and bought a ticket or twenty (ha) were all wishing...hoping...praying even...that this would change their life. So I hope that in some way it will...not only change the life of the one holding the winning ticket...but that they spread that fortune...the share that fortune...they do something to make change...

This could be wishful thinking...but maybe it will happen...we shall see! :)

Today Sounds Like:

Awake - Troublemakers

Three Little Birds - Bob Marley

I Ain't Superstitious - Howlin' Wolf

Pigs on the Wing (Part One) - Pink Floyd