A Million Dollar Friday Five

Singing Owl From Revgalblogpals writes:

Lingering effects of a cold have me watching more television than usual. There appears to be a resurgence of the old daytime staple--the quiz show. Except they are on during prime time, and a great many of them offer the chance of winning one million dollars.I think it started with Regis Philbin and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" but now we have a half dozen or so.My husband and I started musing (after watching "Deal or No Deal") about what we could do with a million dollars. I thought I'd just bring that discussion into the Friday Five this week. It's simple. What are five things you would want to do with a million dollar deposit in your bank account?

First of all, my creativity is failing me! I am used to thinking about what I would do with an extra $200 or even $2000, but $1,000,000? How far would it go? Would it be tax-free? So, my answers might reflect some middle-class mundaneness, but here goes...

1. Pay off debts.

Actually, except for the house we are doing pretty well. My car will be paid for in a few days (yay!). But it would be great to be debt-free. So, I think we would have a fair amount left even after paying off debts.

2. Travel.

Our must-see places include London, Europe, Sweden and Japan (and that's just on first reflection). I lived in Japan for three years a long time ago, but Husband would like to see it. Tokyo, Kyoto (the old capital). Sadly, I think most of my missionary friends are retired by now, and I'm not sure where any of my Japanese friends might be. Still it would be fun. I have wanted also to see Sweden since I was a teenager, even before. My grandparents emigrated from Sweden. My grandma Judy talked about taking me there on a trip, but we never went. Only my oldest cousin Judy (her namesake) got to go to Sweden with grandma when she was a little girl, and she traveled by ship. Actually, we do plan to go to at least some of these places, but I think the difference would be 1) I wouldn't worry about the money we were spending, 2) perhaps we would stay longer, 3) we wouldn't have to choose which places to go.

3. Remodel house.

When we bought this house, I saw that we had a pretty big yard, room in the back to expand if we wanted to. If we had the million, I'd want to put a great big room on the back. I suppose we could just move, but I'm not really interested in having a mansion. Just a little-bigger house.

4. Books and children.

I would like to adopt a child from another country: go to Central America, or China, or Africa, and come home with a son or daughter. Husband does not share this dream, so it doesn't matter how much money we would have. But it's my dream today, isn't it? I would also self-publish a book of reflections, etc. With illustrations by my sister.

5. I would also use my million to support my favorite charity, which is Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. As well, I feel strongly about Literacy and Education, both here in the United States and world-wide.

Other ideas: Start a church/bookstore ministry; take a writing sabbatical; build a cabin on the North Shore.