Beverly Wittler Columnist

  Well, the first thing I’ll do when I win the lottery is get with my banker son Ron and investor dude Linn and decide where to put the part I’m not spending right away. Then I’ll divvy up the considerable percentage I’m handing over to all my wonderful children. Of course Mt. Bethel UMC will get its 10% plus a little extra to cover this year’s apportionments in advance. And then I’ll become selfish.

  First things first, Max gets a new engine, has her wheel covers replaced, and the hood repainted. (A HUGE tree limb fell on her maybe 10 years ago and the wonderful paint job McDonough Collision performed has faded out quite a bit since my ‘forever car’ has to sit outside all the time.) Next thing, Max gets a garage of sorts, will figure that out when the time comes.  Then I think I’ll do some minor upgrades to The Henry Hilton, nothing much though as it already has the three top items I require in a home and that would be indoor plumbing, wall-to-wall carpet and central heat and air.

  Of course I’ll pay off all my bills, and then cut up all credit cards except for my BP gas and my SunTrust debit. Not sure what the remaining dollar amount will be but I do have some favorite charities; Feed The Children, Paralyzed Vets, PETA, UMCOR (Methodist world wide charity),  and some other favorites that seek to cure diabetes and cancer. 

 And…if there’s anything left….well let’s see. I don’t need to update my wardrobe, and I wouldn’t want to have any work done on my wrinkles and sags. Nope, I’m going to just keep looking the way I look. But I might buy a treadmill, if they have one small enough to fit in my living room so I can walk and watch the Wheel and Jeopardy. Since money is now not an issue, I can get a season’s pass from The Henry Players, and maybe, just maybe I’ll find a Shelby Mustang somewhere to rent for a week or two.  

  Well, that’s about all I really want, already have all I need; the most wonderful family ever, the best little Methodist church anywhere in Georgia, maybe the whole USA, and a neat little Toshiba laptop for my part time career. Will I keep working? I think so, it helps my brain stay in operation, and I get to interact with some great people too. 

 When I’ve driven the Shelby, and Max is back in perfect shape, and all my children are taken care of, plus my church, I’ll have attained all my goals and wishes. No new house for me, furniture looks okay and if the television was any bigger it wouldn’t fit next to the DVR and the printer anyway. Hey, I’ll actually be able to say what the tweens now utter when you ask them if they need anything…and that is…”no, I’m good.” Will I be good? Will winning the lottery cause me any problems? Nope, don’t think so; I pretty much already have all I need now. Sure wouldn’t want a new car, don’t need any more clothes, I’ll just be able to share more, see my children and church grow a bit financially, and not have to stash those charity requests I get so frequently.  Now I’ll just write the check when I open the envelope.  Think I’ll just make one significant gift to each one, then ask them to save their stamps and not send me any future requests.

  Okay, that was your fairy tale of the week. But let me ask ……what will you do when/if YOU win the lottery?