For those of you who might have wondered why I took a LONG vacation from blogging will be disappointed to hear that I was not the winner of last month’s powerball drawing:

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Beaverdale man is now a multimillionaire thanks to six lucky numbers he picked.

Hugh Hawkins, 44, came forward Tuesday to claim Iowa’s largest-ever lottery jackpot.

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, some lucky stiff right here in my own home town won the jackpot.’ I had no idea it was me,” Hawkins said.

Hawkins came forward with his wife, Cindy, and their children to claim their $113.2 million Powerball jackpot.

Not so long ago I heard an interview on Bob and Tom with another new millionaire from Utah. When he had a suspicion that he might be the winner he went directly to the nearest gas station to verify he won. The young girl at the cash register ran the winning ticket through the lotto machine. Then her eyes got two sizes too big. She began to dance around in circles while firmly holding the ticket as if she was the winner. The real winner was afraid that he might never get the ticket back from her. In the end he was able to get the ticket. (Of course he left without paying for the gas, but that’s a different story)

I would be over paranoid between that time I know I’m the winner until the point it is verified with the lottery office. I’m not even sure I would tell another living soul. More than likely I would not even share the news with my own parents. You never know how someone would react once a ticket worth millions is brought up. Now I’m not saying my parents would attempt to steal the ticket… or worse, but how can you plan for this event?

They say once you’re aware the numbers match to immediately sign the ticket. I guess by signing the ticket I could avoid being overly paranoid. Then again, I’m not the winner so there is no need to dwell on such a dilemma.