If I had a Million Dollars

In high school, KB and I sang the Bare Naked Ladies song, accompanied by our friend, Beth. We wore shirts with "I'm with stupid" written on them--with both arrows pointing to KB. Beth's shirt said, "I don't know them." We had fun with props we dug out of a laundry basket...including a fur coat, a box of mac & cheese, and, of course, a real green dress. We had so much fun...it's one of my favorite HS memories. KB has a picture of the three of us on a desk in her house...It made me smile to see it sitting there. I know I have copies somewhere.

A million dollars. $1,000,000. That's a lot of zeros. Not as much as it used to be, but still pretty life changing.

I like to think about what I would do with a million dollars. With a hundred million dollars. With a hundred thousand dollars.

First on my list is a house. With a backyard, extra bedrooms, and a decent kitchen. (A poem I once wrote keeps popping into my head as I write this, I had to go find the notebook it was written in...I've got a bookshelf full of pages of random poetry.)

After a house...I guess I don't know. A second car. A life without the paper route. Time.

I live for the day when my fun job can be my only job. I used to dream about being able to stay home all day and everything I'd get done. I'd become super mom, housewife of the year, and a gourmet chef, of course. I'd volunteer at my kids' schools and my house would always be "company ready."

I've changed, though. I still want all those things. But I've added exercise to the list. Now, if I didn't have to work full time, I'd hang out at the Y with Charlotte and her Gym Buddies. I devour the fitness schedule, highlighting all the classes I wish I could take. When I have a day off from work, I try to fit in a class I can't usually take. I never thought I would feel this way about exercising...but I'm loving it.

I'm in a weight rut. I've been playing with the same few pounds for a while now, but I'm trying. I'm down 22.8 pounds and working hard. I'm hanging in there...hang with me.


And now for random poetry...

She dreams of a house with four bedrooms, at least.
With a big, roomy kitchen and windows facing east,
So the plants she'll have can greet the day
and the sunshine can chase the morning blues away.
A bathroom with a shower that's big enough for two--
and plenty of space to move around in when she just wants to say "I love you."
A washer and a dryer in their own separate place,
with lots of room to hang things that won't be hanging in her face.
A big family room, where they all can read
or have movies and popcorn or just watch TV.
A spot for the office for the business she'll run
for the job she won't need, but will just do for fun.
A room for each of her kids and one more, just in case,
So they can all have their own personal space.
She dreams of them playing in their big, new backyard,
And maybe they won't have to work quite so hard.
She'll have time to garden, to cook, and to read...
And finally have all that she ever could need.