If You Won the Lottery

This is something I do not usually do but this time I’m tooting my own horn. Last year on Halloween, I wanted to make a pumpkin cake for everyone at the Red Cross. After searching locally and on line it became obvious that the pan was just too expensive to buy. Ingenuity took over and the cake was a success. Every part was edible from the Zucchini stem to the chocolate covered mint leaves. I was so tickled at how it turned out that I snapped a picture or two of it. Some months later my friend Laura sent me a contest to enter from Quick and Simple. On a whim I sent in the recipe for the pumpkin cake along with the photo. Did not win first prize but I did win a brand new mixer which is still in the box mainly because there are already two Kitchen Aid mixers in my kitchen with no room for another mixer of any kind. If you can not tell, I am very excited about this and have since entered more recipe contest. Who knows, lightening could strike twice.
The yards in my area were teeming with Robins today. They are so welcome in my yard; the more the merrier. The more Robins the fewer Carolina Cherries take hold in my flower beds and the fewer little seedlings are pulled on my hands and knees every year. If only the seeds, bulbs and corms were as prolific as Carolina Cherries. It seems as if every one the Robins miss root and take hold, if not this season then the next. It is a losing battle unless one is diligent. Another hurrah for Mother Nature for sending the Robins on their annual visit. It is also a sign to me that it will not be long before the daffodils are up and blooming with the Peonies not far behind. Every year that a Peony blooms it thrills me no end, then after the Peonies the Hydrangeas begin their annual show before leading us into those days of summer that make me swear every year I’m moving to Oregon but I never make the trip. Winter is my favorite weather but spring renews my spirit and hope.
Having noticed the huge amount in the South Carolina Lottery last week I struck up a conversation with the person next to me in line at the grocery store to ascertain just what people would do with that much money. The first person told me she would throw a huge party in celebration then go on a non-stop shopping spree which would include cars, clothes and jewelry. She was young. My second conversation was with a male of about the same age as the first person who told me in no uncertain terms he would have an unlimited supply of beer. A few days later at the post office I chose middle aged people to speak with. The female told me she would shower her children with gifts then find a decent place to live. I dare say with that kind of money she could find something decent. Next target, male, said he would buy a new truck and quit his job. Later that morning at Wal-Mart I tried again but this time with older more mature people. The female told me she would make sure her children and grandchildren never worried again about money. The male told me he would take his wife on a cruise and leave her there but then he laughed, so I don’t know if he was serious. Me? Besides the obvious of paying myself out of debt, I would buy the young man across the street who is struggling to work and go to school and who every night has to run an electrical cord to his car in hopes that it will start, a new vehicle. Set my mother up in her own space with private in-home care and then look for people to give anonymous gifts to. The main thing I would do is never ever tell a single soul that I won. It would be fun to know what other people think they would do if, by chance, millions of dollars fell into their laps and what, if any, sociological results take place.