Bright Ideas

Those are the first words of a song from the movie “Cabaret,” starring Liza Minnelli. The song goes on to say, “Money makes the world go around.” I must have believed that. Never having any excess money, I bought two Powerball lottery tickets every week. I had selected numbers for tickets, based on Ekalaka’s zip code.

I wanted to pave Ekalaka’s streets. I had not thought that problem through. I would need much more than the paving cost to cover maintenance and repair. And costs would go on and on.

What is the town’s total budget? Millions don’t last as long as they used to; when the lottery price doubled, I dropped out.

Have you put your name in the pot for the Publishers Clearing House prize? You could have $1,000 a day for the rest of your life. Just my luck, I’d be so surprised, I’d have a heart attack, drop dead and never be able to collect my winnings.

My in-laws believed they were going to win the drawing on Super Bowl Sunday, many years ago. They were dressed up when they arrived at our house; Dora’s hair was still in pin curls, to improve her coif. They kept looking out the front window, expecting the Publishers Clearing House car to arrive. No one came. I hope the game was exciting.

I think large amounts of money are more problems than they’re worth. First, you’d need a financial advisor. How far does a person need to go to find one of those? Then you have all those distant relatives showing up. I just have one nephew who’d want a chunk. My other nephew is making his own way.

I don’t subscribe to any magazines where Publishers Clearing House is involved, and I’m not adding my name to their mailing list. I hope we are all treated fairly, winning where possible, but losing just as gracefully.

We realize our families are the best gifts; grandchildren the greatest gift. Our Ekalaka grandsons now work for us: mowing and sweeping. As Brice gets older, these boys can help with summer work, although halfway through they always ask how much they’ll be paid.

How did that song go? “Money, money, money. Money makes the world go around, the world go around.”