If you really want something in life, you have to work for it. Now quiet, they're about to announce the lottery numbers. - Homer Simpson

Awaiting the lottery numbers was a Friday tradition for my father. It was in the early days of State sponsored gambling, Illinois had a weekly lottery drawing back in the early 80's. Missouri was still in the dark ages of gambling and "riverboat" gambling was more than a decade and a half away from coming to the region.

Dad was a life long machinist since WWII and was a very good one. He had made more money than he ever imagined in the job and had a comfortable life all things considered. But the lottery offered the promise of greater freedom and less worry. While good as a machinist, he did not find the job very fulfilling. In his heart he wanted to be either farmer or a naturalist. He loved being outdoors. Sunday country drives and creek bed walks were very much a part of my childhood. He longed for that type of life but such things remained a hobby.

He faithfully bought tickets for the next 20 years until it was his time to say goodbye. For someone who bought lottery tickets he was otherwise very frugal in spending money. Make every attempt to repair something before you ever think of replacing it. Mom would often tease my father about watching the lottery ping pong ball drawing on Friday evenings, but she tended to spend money like Dad had already won. Funny how that works.

While money won't fix all your problems in life, it will fix a lot of your money problems. I forgot who said that, someone Scott Adams interviewed a few years ago. While my father hoped for winning numbers, I think he was really looking for a more fulfilling life. Vocational awareness is a much better path than financial success for long term happiness. BUT, there is always a but, many vocations do not afford one a livelihood of reasonable contentment. Are there any more starving artists? Anyways, I hope your lucky numbers come from the choices you make in life rather than air driven ping-pong balls or computer generated numbers. Don't get me wrong, I don't fault Dad, he had his hopes for a step up from the B grade life he was living to what he imagined the A grade life would be. Near the end of his life it was more of a game that he had grown to enjoy rather than a real hope that would change life. He watched the drawing, Mom lovingly teased him, dinner was served and whatever new VHS was available was watched later that evening. Happy Friday Friends! I hope you have found or find your lucky numbers.

Meanwhile somewhere this happened.