I think many kids have watched “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory”, or for the new generation “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory”, and remember the anticipation as Charlie opened each Wonka Bar hoping to find a Golden Ticket. Then the exhilaration when he finds it. Most, in a story like this, cheer for the underdog. To make this story even better, Wonka recently had a real “Golden Ticket” prize contest, making this adult feel like a kid each time I opened a Scrumdiddlyumptious Bar looking and wishing to find my own Golden Ticket. This time the contest offered a trip around the world.
In my humble opinion – “Charlie” is the male “Cinderella”. Girls dream of marrying the prince and living happily ever after; whereas boys’ happily ever after dreams come much closer to that of owning a chocolate factory. In both movies Charlie is the underdog and has as much more concern for his family’s well-being even after finding the ticket he only dreamed he could find. As the new Golden Ticket contest was coming to an end is when I discovered it. Still the few Scrumdiddlyumptious Bars I did eat… I opened with the naiveté, hopes and dreams of a child.
Any Wonka bar is a joy for me to eat, but the act of opening the candy for that moment even had a thrill. The prize this time- Trip Around the World: four destinations, three travel companions, and $12,500 to spend as you see fit. As a grown up…. this would be my dream – free travel. I would rather travel, with friends, than win a chocolate factory – too much work owning a factory!! lol If I won a prize like this, friends may even answer my calls (that is another blog lol)!! With my MS (Multiple Sclerosis), I could possibly make that kind of trip with 3 assistants in tow.
Now that the Golden Ticket contest is over, I will join all others with high hopes of winning our society’s other golden ticket – POWERBALL or MEGAMILLIONS. Just as I opened each Wonka Bar, I check my lotto with real hopes of a life 
changing experience – minus the chocolate bar. I have often asked myself, “Do rich people ever buy Powerball tickets?” If so, are they excited when checking the numbers like us poor folk with dreams based on the need to have more money instead of the dream to just have more money. I relate to Charlie in that I want my Golden Ticket to help more than me… I want to also help my family. I feel that is why these movies and the lotto appeal to people who struggle because of the dream to one day be able to relax and enjoy life instead of constant worry. Although my family, as well as I, would rather win the Powerball!! 😉 lol
As in the movies…. we all just want a happy ending whether it is escaping reality with travel, trying to buy happiness or just being able to relax and not worry about money. Money might not be able to buy 
happiness, but not having money sure pays for a lot of worry and stress – I would like to have the opportunity to at least rent or lease some happiness! Maybe one day I will make a movie based on me called “Thomas & the Powerball Ticket”!!
Thomas Johnston 