Every single person I know has bought a lottery ticket for tonight's record-setting Mega Millions drawing. Every. Single. Person. I. Know.
I've seen hundreds of strangers on the street carrying their tickets.
The jackpot is set for $640 million, an all-time high.
Everyone is talking about the lottery.
What has amazed me most is the positive spirit this historic event has spurred among my neighbors. Every person buying a ticket at my local convenience store smiled and wished each other good luck. My colleagues all grinned as they tossed in $10 and told each other, "See you Monday, even if we win!" Everyone is plotting how to spend their riches, and most conversations I've heard include huge donations to charity and shared wealth among family and friends.
Most often a nationwide event is laden with sorrow, tragedy, and shared disappointment. How often do we encounter a nationwide event that makes us all feel good? How often do we share in our neighbors' joy and good will, outside of the holiday season?
This lottery is set to make history but I'll always remember it as a time when my community shared hope. Unless I win. Then it will forever be remembered as the day I payed off my student loans.
Good luck to you all!
