To the Editor:

During the year, every few weeks, I will purchase a lotto “scratch off” for fun not expecting to win but enjoying the thrill.

This past Christmas, the family was gathered around the Christmas tree when in marched my Christmas gift. I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard.

A procession with my grandson leading and my son at the end. In between the two of them was a 10-foot long string of lotto “scratch offs.”

I was shocked and filled with laughter and joy. What a fun gift! The best gift was the sight of the two of them marching into the living room. Everyone laughed and found joy in that moment. And then it happened again!

In the boys marched again, carrying another long strand!  

Again, the shock, the laughter, and the mirth people seek at Christmas bubbled over and filled the room. I was feeling a little overwhelmed at this point.

I was thinking about the money my son had spent on this Christmas Lotto gift. In my mind were mingled memories of the times I had played through the years and most of those Lotto “scratch offs” were losers but the occasional surprise when I would win a little bit and feel good.

Amidst my feeling overwhelmed and joyous, a third and final time, the boys marched in, again carrying another long strand! And the surprise, amusement, and holiday cheer continued.

Each Christmas, how many people spend $200 dollars on lottery tickets?

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my son’s gift to me. At the same time, I am fully aware of the fact that it is like flushing cash down the toilet.

Out of the 100 tickets he bought for me, only 20 were “winners.”  Prizes ranged from $2 to $20 for a total of $132.

That means the state Lotto system gets to keep $68 and use it towards whatever they use it for in education, administration, etc. Is that fair?  Probably but, most of us would like to win a little more.

We’ve reached a compromise in our household: When I get winning tickets, I take part of the money and put it in an envelope.  After the envelope has $100 in it, I take that money and invest it in stocks, another type of gambling.

It’s really a matter of perspective. I experienced well over $200 worth of joy just receiving the gift. The state got a little bit of money out of the deal, which is good. My mild addiction to buying a $2 or $3 dollar “scratch off” every few weeks has been satisfied for a while.

Again, it’s perspective. I look forward to experiencing the same great joy next Christmas.

Joseph Monette

Berne