First, let me say Happy New Year. I hope 2025 did right by you and your 2026 is even better! Now, OMG!!!! I can't believe it's been this long since I've blogged.
I decided to switch things up —
stretch my imagination a little, have some fun. Years ago, I bought a writing‑prompt
book because I wanted to sharpen my storytelling skills. It’s been sitting on
my shelf giving me the side‑eye ever since, so today I finally cracked it open.
The prompt starts like this:
“At first, we thought the black liquid was oil — that we’d struck it
rich, that we’d finally be able to retire and live in leisure. We actually
started writing down all the ways we’d spend the money. Our first choice was…”
So…..
If Jamie and I ever stumbled onto a fortune, we wouldn’t suddenly turn
into those people buying gold‑plated toothbrushes or pet tigers. No, we’re
realists. Practical dreamers. So our first move would be simple: wipe out any remaining debt — ours and
our parents’.
Honestly, the idea of our parents living the rest of their lives without
financial stress feels better than any yacht ever could. Plus, I don’t even
know how to drive a yacht. Do you need a license? A tutorial? A YouTube video?
I don’t have that kind of time.
Next up: investing. Not the flashy, “I day‑trade from my balcony in silk
pajamas” kind. More like the “let’s make sure we can retire without eating
beans out of a can” kind. Sensible, steady, grown‑up investing. The kind that
whispers, “Relax, you’re good.”
Then comes the dream we’ve been carrying for years:
a beach home in Hawaii.
There is nothing — absolutely nothing — like sitting on a patio with the
ocean breathing in front of you. The waves don’t just crash; they exhale. They
do that slow, soothing “shhh” sound like they’re telling your worries to sit
down somewhere. Jamie and I realized long ago that the ocean is our reset
button. Our therapy. Our free mental health plan.
Of course, we wouldn’t forget our family — sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. Not
in a “here’s a stack of cash, go wild” way, but in a “let us help you get where
you’re trying to go” way. Support that lifts, not spoils. We’re generous, not
reckless.
And because striking oil apparently comes with responsibilities, we’d
need a team — accountants, advisors, people who understand how to manage wealth
so it doesn’t manage you. Basically, adults who are more adult than us. Secure
the bag, yes, but also secure the people who know what to do with the bag.
Then comes the fun part: travel.
Jamie and I are travelers in our souls. You already know we’d be out here
collecting continents like Pokémon. Every country we can reach, every culture
we can learn from, every food we can’t pronounce but will absolutely try —
we’re there. Life is too big to stay in one place.
And finally, we’d give back. The communities that shaped us, the elders
who paved the way, the children who deserve a future full of possibility. St.
Jude would definitely be on that list — the work they do is nothing short of
miraculous.
I could keep going, but I’ll stop here before I start planning a whole
imaginary budget. It’s funny how a simple writing prompt can open the door to a
whole universe of dreams. Maybe that’s the real treasure.
