Are you good at keeping your promises?
Years ago, back in 1992 to be exact, Thomas Cook and Joseph Feeney made a pact: if either of them ever won the lottery, they’d split the winnings, and then they shook on it.
Over the years, every week, Tom and Joseph would buy Powerball tickets never thinking that they would actually win…but then one day it happened. Tom had the winning numbers. He said the first few numbers matched, so then he had his wife check and sure enough, he had WON!
Almost 30 years later Tom won a $22 million jackpot, and after he hugged his wife, he had a pretty important phone call to make…he called his best bud Joseph to tell him the news. He didn’t call him to rub it in, he called him to tell him that he was keeping his promise made almost 30 years ago, and he was splitting the lottery with his friend because “a hand shakes a hand shake.”
When Tom called to tell Joseph the good news, he could hardly believe it…in fact he said “Are you jerking my bobber?” to his good friend.
In truth, he was not jerking his bobber. THEY WON!
Joseph was already retired, so after winning Tom retired as well. The men chose the cash option of about $16.7 million, which meant after taxes they would both get about $5.7 each. That doesn’t seem like a lot considering the jackpot was $22 million, but Tom and Joseph don’t care. They can live comfortably, travel, and see their grandkids whenever they want. What better way to spend your retirement?
7-27-20
