Windfall

How Would You Spend a Windfall? 

These were some of my thoughts as I walked home...

All of the lilacs at the market?

 Some bright and pretty new spring clothes?

Half of an iPad2?

No, I am not one of the major Mega Millions winners. I did win two dollars, but since I contributed four dollars, I actually lost money on the Mega hysteria. I also lost several hours of my life discussing what I would do with tens of millions of dollars.  By Sunday night I had put all thoughts of monetary windfalls out of my mind and once again my focus was on reality. And somewhat amazingly, Monday brought a windfall. 

Sometime at the end of 2010 I filled out paperwork for a class action suit concerning insurance. I sent the paper work off and thought I would get a check very soon after that. I figured -- very mistakenly -- that I would receive hundreds of dollars and would use that for spending money for my trip last winter to Spain. I'm not sure what my logic was, but clearly I was wrong. After I got back from the trip I gave the suit very little thought. Last night I found a check for my part of the settlement, $187.27. 

I'm not quite as giddy as I might be if I was a major winner of the Mega Millions, but I am giddy. I've had a lot of fun thinking about how I will spend my windfall. It won't be a bigger apartment or an endowed scholarship at Dartmouth. Those things will have to wait for my Mega Millions, but I am thinking of an experience that I might not have done, possibly an exercise class that looks interesting and will put me closer to my goal of being more fit. I also will tithe this windfall, just as I had planned to tithe my Mega winnings. I've got a cause in mind and will share it in another post.  

How would you spend $187.27 that arrived as a windfall? Would you be practical and use if for bills or whimsical and buy something that's a treat? Inquiring minds want to know!