Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Denise Rosenau Column, 8/27/2001



I guess that this is not exactly an accurate title for
my column this week, but it was what I wanted to say prior to the Powerball
lottery drawing.

As you can probably guess, I didn’t win. Yes, I am depressed
about it, but realistically, what can I expect when I only bought two tickets?
My mindset was that, it only takes one to win, so I’ll double my chances.

I had already practically spent all $5 million a year for
the year 2001. And I must say, it’s been a lot of fun spending money in
my mind.

We all have our own ideas of how we would spend our lottery
winnings, and I am no different. There are always the first priorities ­
eliminating all debt from people I care most about by paying off their expenses.

Most people these days carry some sort of debt, whether
it be car payments, mortgage payments, credit cards, student loans, whatever.
Could you imagine what it would feel like to have no debt to speak of? Heaven.

Then, of course, there are the charitable causes that I
would love to contribute to, which I’m sure would magically show up at my
door shortly after winning. Of course I would contribute, but only after
checking out it’s legitimacy.

And don’t forget the job-thing. I must say, I would no
longer be a “paid” part of the Herald and Journal staff, but I
would love to stay on to do some of the fun things, like write my weekly
column.

My step-mom has a great way of looking at working after
winning the lottery. She says that she wouldn’t feel right about having
a job that someone else needs. Well put.

Also, I would love to spend money sometime on whatever
strikes my fancy and not have to be concerned about silly things like groceries
and phone bills.

I would finally get the one thing that I really want for
myself ­ a hunter green Lexus SUV with integrated child safety seats.
After all, I’d still be a mom . . . just a wealthy mom.

With all of the spending I would be doing (and trust me
when I tell you, I am very good at spending), I would need an accountant
before I made it on the 6 o’clock news to announce me as the winner.

And I’d need another accountant to make sure that the first
accountant is honest, because I wouldn’t be too difficult to embezzle from.

I’ve heard that the majority of lottery winners in the
United States end up bankrupt within a few years. I just don’t understand
how that could be, but I know it would never happen to me.

If I had to declare bankruptcy with $5 million a year,
I would hope that someone would duct tape my checkbook to my accountant.

I am guessing, however, that I will never have to go to
that extreme, because I’ve also heard that a person has a better chance
of being hit by lightning than winning the lottery, which has an 80 million
to one odds of winning.

But the dreaming was sure fun.

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