Top of the World!

30 March 2023

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: I like the old movies, especially the ones with James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart.

ABBY: I remember Cagney on top of the gas tank – or oil tank –in the movie “White Heat,” screaming to his mother that he was “on top of the world.” The tank then blew up and his character was definitely on top of the world, pieces of him at least. Cagney was a great criminal and a great song-and-dance men.

CINDY: How many casino players have been on top of the world do you think? I mean really on top of the world; not just having a winning night but, you know, on top of the world?

ABBY: Good question. Maybe folks who have won some of those million-dollar jackpots on progressive machines. Those are life-changing events I would think. People dream of getting a win like that. It fuels the lotto industry too right?

CINDY: How many of them go one to live great lives on top of the world? Do you think life-changing events actually change life for the better?

ABBY: I really don’t know. We live our lives based on who we are, deep down, and I think in general if you are a loser you will react to big wins as a loser would. Maybe losing the win over time, long or short time, or screwing up your life but this time screwing it up with a lot of money behind you.

CINDY: Until you lose that money. We certainly have read stories of the big jackpot winners, big lottery winner, even big inheritors of money, you have gone down the drain – a very expensive drain.

ABBY: From the top to the bottom of the world becomes their story. We know that too many people just screw up and their money vanishes by bad investments.

CINDY: Or no investments.

ABBY: Their version of the wild life. Throwing one’s money around.

CINDY: Acting like big shots.

ABBY: Big shots who haven’t actually earned anything worth thinking “I am a big shot, so look at me.”

CINDY: Okay, I’m depressed.

ABBY: Okay, so let us say you win a big one, whatever that is, a lottery or slot jackpot, what should you do so you aren’t blown from the top of the world as James Cagney was?

CINDY: First I’ll tell you what not to do! Don’t tell any of your relatives or friends if you can help it.

ABBY: With the lottery they publicize that you are a winner and how much you won.

CINDY: I’d say something like this. I am so happy I won this much money. Anyone who asks me for a loan or to invest or to give to their charity, the answer is no. Don’t even bother getting in touch with me. The answer is no. It will always be no. A big fat no. That includes relatives, friends, clergymen and women, everyone.

ABBY: You could use the same thing if you won a big jackpot because the casinos will give you publicity. I would say the same thing or put it as my answering service. “Hi, this is Abby, the answer to your question is NO!”

CINDY: And then what? I’d go to a financial advisor and a lawyer. I’d want to know how to protect my money for the most part from the taxes that will inevitably be applied by the government.

ABBY: I agree. I also would not be in a rush to answer reporters’ questions. They want a story; you want a life that is free from hassles.

CINDY: I guess it isn’t easy to be on top of the world.

ABBY: I guess not!