Historic jackpot prompts daydreams

SANDPOINT — What would you do with half a billion dollars?

That’s the question on everyone’s mind as the drawing for the Mega Millions jackpot approaches. With the jackpot sitting at a historic $540 million, people across the country are dreaming about an instant rise to fame and fortune.

Sandpoint is no exception. Customers swarmed local lottery ticket providers Thursday hoping to get in on the excitement for the low price of a dollar a pop. The chances of winning the jackpot might be one in 175 million, but until the numbers are actually announced, people have a license to fantasize.

“Until you’re a loser, you’re a winner,” said Karen Feist, a Dairy Depot employee who was swamped throughout the day with ticket requests. “You can dream of a whole lot of stuff.”

Even I haven’t escaped the lottery fever, and I’ve never purchased a ticket until now. Now I can’t help but speculate: What if this the one-in-175-million number? It would certainly be nice to say good bye to my student loans, put some money down on a house and set up my mom and siblings for life. Maybe I could take some time off to finish that novel. And imagine all the worthy nonprofits out there that could use a serious cash infusion.

For many people, that free rein to speculate and imagine is worth a few dollars for a piece of paper that will likely end up crumbled in the garbage. Take Megan Shover, who would begin her life as a wealthy woman by settling her family debts and traveling the world.

“I’m not a regular player at all,” she said. “This is only the second time I’ve ever purchased a lottery ticket.”

The desire to make Sandpoint a better place also fueled some Mega Million daydreams. Exxon employee Randy Howard said he would supply the area’s residents with enough food to last a year.

“Then I would run for mayor,” he added, laughing.

As for Feist, she’d first donate a large portion of her winnings to religious causes and churches. Then she’d construct a heated public pool for the community to enjoy.  

“It’s no fun for all those little kids who are learning to swim in June when the water is still freezing cold,” she said.

No matter the dream, it’s enough to drive people in droves to the gas stations. Dairy Depot employee Devin Dexter said they’d already sold $1,000 worth of tickets by mid-afternoon Thursday.

“Everyone wants a shot at that half a billion,” he said.

Howard reported similar results at Exxon.

“I’ve only been here an hour and a half, and I’ve already got a whole sheet filled out,” he said.

Regardless of who wins and who loses, the lottery buzz is only good news for the state of Idaho. The Idaho Lottery benefits public schools and the state’s permanent building fund, and 25 cents of every dollar spent on tickets returns to citizens in some form.

“We say all the time that every play pays, and it is true,” Idaho Lottery director Jeff Anderson said. “Every dollar played on the lottery comes back to the state in one form or another, whether it’s in the form of prizes to players, commissions to retails for selling tickets, or dividends for our good causes.”    

Given that fact, there are certainly worse things to drop a few dollars on that the privilege to daydream. Just be sure to make your purchases by 6:55 p.m. before ticket sales for the Friday night drawing close. And if Feist has any say in the matter, keep expectations to a minimum.

“These people are just giving me money, because I’m going to be the winner,” she said.