…the sun day.  Saturday the Florida Lottery came to Paddock Square at Brownwood to kick off the new 3 Million Dollar Flamingo Fortune scratch-off ticket and to also showcase their new lottery logo. The 20 year old logo literally got a facelift, although the state offices call it a refreshing.  According to officials, the font is more playful, and the flamingo’s features are more defined, which I think makes even the flamingo look quite “Sophie Tucker” playful. Why not come up and buy a ticket sometime, playful. I did purchase $30 worth of tickets and won another $20 worth, which I was told I now had won 66% of my money back.  I disagreed with that analogy as, when all the scratching was completed, I had won $8, which is a 26% return on my investment.  That would have been a great return, if I had not lost my initial investment.  Another way it could be said is I suffered a 74% loss, and was not entitled to a tax deduction That is very depressing, however, to be perfectly honest. it is hard to put a price on being out in the sunshine, with friends  having fun, and for a moment imagining a new golf cart in the garage, or better yet $1000 a week for life.  No price can be put on the fact that everyone that stepped up to buy tickets and spin the wheel, did so with a big smile on their face.  The excitement of being a big winner was experienced with each scratch of the card.  There were hoots and hollers as people scratched and won, and I do believe it did not matter the amount, what mattered is they were a winner.  Well, until the next scratch that is. And yet when I looked at the enormous amount of people having fun, I could not help but think that those of us who are Village resident  would have to  say we hit the jackpot the day we decided to move here. We receive prizes every day and they come in the form of:  new recreation centers, new golf courses, new swimming pools, new activities, new restaurants, new stores and most importantly… new friends.