the lottery

I have never really won anything. A used book in a church raffle once years ago, but nothing that would make me jump up and down and yell in total disbelief of my good fortune.

I bet on the wrong horses at the Kentucky Derby, I have never screamed BINGO after placing a tile on the final square of my bingo board. I have been to Las Vegas and didn’t win, and like most people, I have never won the lottery.

After living most of my life, or 55 years of it, I have come to recognize myself as a bit of a loser when it comes to games and contests that require luck, and I usually steer clear, especially when money is involved.

Remember Rock Your World? No? Well, I do. He was my pick (I liked his name) in the 2021 Derby. He placed 17th out of 20. He did slightly better in the Belmont Stakes, where he placed 6th after he overtook my pick, Overtook, who came in 7th.

But when my daughter asked me the other day if I had ever won the lottery or Powerball or even Lotto, I told her, “Yes.”

Because although I have never officially won, amassing small or large amounts of money, if I look honestly at my life, I have definitely won the lottery.

Let’s start with the fact that I live in America - BINGO! I have wonderful friends. I am healthy. I love my husband and my children. I have interests and hobbies. Right now, I live with not one or two, but six animals. I live in a house. I drive a car. I get to drink coffee every day. There is food on my table. Sometimes I am in a position to help. Sometimes I get to sit in traffic because I have some place to go. You get the picture.

A friend once said to me that life isn’t fair, but guess what, we are on the good side of fair. And that is how I feel about luck. No, I don’t win at the races or the bingo table or even in Las Vegas, but in the big picture - I am the lucky one.