Genilee wrote last week about what she would do with one million dollars. She suggested that maybe this week I could do the same because desires change with age.
Fifteen years ago, I would have bought my husband a new fancy new luxury car. As Genilee said in her blog, that kind of gift would give me a personal thrill. Today, however, he might still want one, but I wouldn’t buy it. What good is a car to him or to me when neither of us can drive. Fifteen or 20 years ago, I also might have chosen to take a long European trip, but that’s hard to envision today since we are both using canes and walkers. I can’t see how such a trip would be pleasurable. However, I do have a substitute for that European jaunt―a worldwide cruise on a luxury liner. That would be wonderful. I don’t know how much we would be able to see of the different countries we visited, but I’m sure if I was that rich, I could work something out.
But before I take that trip, I think the first thing I would do with my million would be to give each of my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren $50,000 to spend in whatever manner they wished. I would also give monetary gifts to a few of my very good friends and to the Alzheimer Research Association in hopes that families in the future won’t have to go through what my family is experiencing. Those few things would easily eat up about $600,000; then I’m figuring $200,000 for that cruise (like I said, I want a luxury liner.) What was left, I’d put in the bank and then move my husband and I to an assisted living community I have visited and found ideal because of how cheerful the people are, how good the activity director is and what a great feel I had for the place (yes, Chancellor’s Village, I’m talking about you folks!).
I know all this will not sound very exciting to our younger readers (and we have many of them); but our desires change with age. Well, maybe desires isn’t the right word. I guess I mean our needs change. I think our desires actually stay pretty much the same, but get adjusted as our daily realities change.
To be honest, though, I don’t think I will have to worry about any of this. I don’t seem to be winning any lotteries, and I don’t think I can achieve a million bucks with $15 royalty checks from our books! It’s surely a good thing we enjoy the writing and seeing our work in print―we certainly aren’t going to earn a million in my lifetime. Maybe Genilee will reap a little of it someday.
Either way, it’s fun to dream!
F. Sharon Swope
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