Tuesday a nurse at my facility won $50,000 from a $5.00 scratch off ticket. I work pretty closely with this particular nurse so I knew that it was a real windfall. But I had no idea how much of one.
After gushing with excitement and showing the big winner ticket the state gives you when you win that much she broke into tears. She clutched that winners ticket and told me at the time that she won the money she was negative $200 in her checking account, owes the government $12,000, and desperately needs a hearing aid. She is 60 years old, newly divorced and pretty scared.
The joy that permeated from her was palpable. On Wednesday the joy started to subside a bit. The state immediately took $15,000 of the winnings for taxes. Another $12,000 for what she owes the government in back taxes. So she was left with $23,000. She lamented about how much the government had taken. I had to remind her that she still had $23,000 which is more than enough to buy her hearing aids and then some.
Today she moped around a bit still lamenting the taxes. I told her if it were me I would be glad that the big $12,000 bill that hung over her head was now paid and that she could either pay off some bills, take a vacation or just put the rest in the bank. Didn't seem to cheer her up.
I'm just guessing here, but I think I would be pretty darn happy with that outcome.
Malicious Extrapolation
9 years ago
Posts
People are never happy. Even if she'd gotten every penny of the money, she would have had kids or relatives needing this or that. Something would have broken down or needed to be replaced.
ReplyDeleteUnless you are determined to be happy and enjoy life REGARDLESS, even $23,000 falling in your lap won't pick up your spirits for long.
Although, I'd like to try it on for size just to be sure.