Does it run in families?

About twenty-five years ago, a family in my small community won the lottery. They lived in a trailer. He worked in a factory. His wife had a young baby. They struggled. It was good to see them win.

His wife was the brains of the family. She figured out how to invest money and buy property. She made sure her children had what they needed, but she was not extravagant. When the big annual payouts ended, the family still had a comfortable life and security.

I wish all lottery stories were as good as theirs.

The family has a son who is about the same age as the man who won the lotto jackpot all those years ago. I went into my local gas station/convenience store the other day, and saw the son's name on the wall. He had won a $2,000.00 scratch off ticket. When I commented on this, the owner told me that he wins scratch off tickets fairly regularly. It is not uncommon for him to win $50.00, $200.00, or $500.00 every few months. Once, she gave him two dollars and asked him to buy a ticket for her and scratch it off. He did, and nothing happened. But he bought the very next ticket and it was a winner!

Like his father, this young man takes his luck in stride. He does not try to earn his living as a gambler. He earns the old fashioned way, through hard work.

How does this work? Does luck follow this family?

but I applaud them for being sensible with their money. Our society as a whole encourages the extravagant lifestyle.

I remember once talking with coworkers where they were giving all of the examples of things they'd buy if they won the lottery, including cars only the rich can afford. When I was asked, I said I'd buy a small house, not much more square footage than what I have now with enough land to grow much of my own food. I'd keep my little Civic because I love that car. They simply could not understand why I'd keep a "cheap" car and not "upgrade". So I yielded and said I'd likely remove the wasteful gasoline engine and replace it with an electric one. Of course, they didn't like that either, but they are a product of their society.

I can't say I'd work any more, though, as I would invest so I could do the kind of writing I like (well-researched and long periods between books) which isn't all that conducive to a living wage ;)

I saw in the news a few years ago. One man won the NY Lottery for, I think, $1 million one year and about a year or so later (the year I saw it on the news) won another $3 million. I remember he said that he always dreams of numbers and plays them.

I checked the web to find him but found these two who are not the guy. They're too recent and maybe he wasn't in New York.

http://www.alottery.com/news/new-york-lottery-player-wins-twice.asp
http://www.nylottery.org/ny/nyStore/cgi-bin/WinnerNewsDetail_Cat_353_NavRoot_304_ProdID_1511497.htm

I was surprised to see quite a few multiple winners of jackpots.

Maybe I am due to win again.

:) It's about time! But you're already a winner Murielm99, quitting smoking and trying to swim :hug:

I went to bed with a massive headache, too. Maybe that will teach me.

That's great though - seems like your body is helping out by rejecting the smoke :thumbsup: Try, try again :hug: