LIFE JUST ISN'T FAIR

My girlfriend Ellie called the other day. She was yelling, "If I don't win the lottery pretty soon I don't know what I'm going to do." Life just isn't fair," she continued.
I realized how unhappy she was and how unhappy she had been, but I wasn't totally convinced that winning the lottery would bring her all the happiness she was looking for.
After we hung up I thought about her for a long time.
I thought about all the things that make me happy that have nothing to do with money.
Sometimes my sister, Pat, laughs so hard tears roll down her cheeks-usually at something that's just silly.
A lot of the memories I have are of my grandmother's kitchen. I remember learning to cook and helping her put butter on the top of freshly baked bread.
My mother smiling at me when I know she's proud I'm her daughter.
When my husband brings me flowers for no reason, or sends me a card because he cares.
When my children ask me to go to a movie or dinner with them and not expect me to pay.
When my dog wags his entire body just because I walked through the door.
The other day I cleaned a drawer and found old poems my children had written to me on special occasions telling me they love me.
And most of all my friends make me happy when they call and say let's have lunch---I miss you.
Someday I hope my friend, Ellie, will realize her family and friends are more important than anything---and if she ever does with the lottery she'll have more friends and family she doesn't know she has. And I hope she remembers I'm one of them.