The "I Just Has To Do It" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Trying to stay awake until 11:00 PM so I can hear the results of the Powerball Lottery drawing which is the world's largest lottery in history.  I have NEVER bought a lottery ticket although I did participate years ago as part of a group of teachers who collected $5 a month and purchased lottery tickets for everyone who gave money.  Only one time did I not have to pay the $5, since our winnings were enough to play that month without collecting the usual fee.  To me it was like throwing away my hard-earned money, but since all the other teachers in my wing of the building payed the $5, I felt obligated to do it also.  This went on for a few years until the teacher who organized it retired and it ended.  Well, I have been reading the newspaper and watching TV for the past few weeks and have followed the growth of the Powerball Lottery amount until a few days ago when it's worth became $1.5 BILLION dollars.  That got my attention.  Carol and I talked about what we would do if we won that amount and it just seemed surreal.  I still wasn't convinced that I should buy a ticket and waste my money.  I was reading that my chances of winning the $1.5 BILLION are about 1 in 175,223,510.  On TV they show big lines of people standing in line, waiting to buy the lottery tickets.  And, that is in one medium sized town in the United States.   The Powerball Lottery is held in all states in the United States but six.  Even Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands participate in this money frenzy.  No way am I going to win.  But, just in case .......  Yep, I went to buy gas yesterday and saw the flashing sign in the window and thought .... I have $10 in my pocket .... why not give it a try.  I had no idea what to do, but while standing in line, I saw what everyone one else was doing.  I could buy 5 tickets for my $10 or I could buy 3 for $9.  The difference is that I would have a chance to multiply my winnings if I paid the larger amount.  And, that's what I did.  Bought three chances with the multiplier chance.  I think what convinced me to give it a try was talking with my boss at the gallery where I had just finished working a few hours before my trip to the gas station.  His wife's birthday was last week and his dad bought her a few lottery tickets.  She had a few matching numbers and her multiplier on one of her chances matched so she won $39.  Simple as that.  Hey, if she can win that easy, so can I!  Well, did I win?  Read in the paper that you should never tell anyone if you win but your lawyer, accountant and financial advisor.  Have I made any calls to them yet?  Not gonna tell you.  Only thing I can tell you is that if you pass my house and see a brand new bright yellow Corvette in the driveway, you might have an idea.  Of course, a few of my friends from the Corvette Club which I used to be a member of also have the same idea and they probably would stop to show me their new bright yellow Corvette if they won.  Someone eventually has to win.  Why not me?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.