I began to ponder the difference between these two obviously similar words, terms, and states-of-being.

Webster says luck is, “the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual.”  Fortune, on the other hand, is, “a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably.”  Perhaps they are on the same hand.  It seems these forces are not acting in my favor to contradict the two terms, but I will anyway.

Luck is something you have when you scratch off lottery tickets.

I won $5, $2, and a free ticket on my birthday.  On the free ticket, I won $2.  For the heck of it, I got two more tickets with that money.  On one of the cards, I won a free ticket.  On that ticket I won two more dollars. On one of those tickets. I won another $2.  Finally I lost it all.

Although the switch between $2 and free tickets isn’t much, I owe that to luck.

Fortune is what got me to where I am today.  Through all the wonderful and poor choices I’ve made, I am still alive, loved, and happy.

I am fortunate to have Sterling Pennington as a friend.  He is truly wonderful.  He also accompanied me on my back and forth to the lottery ticket counter at 711 Friday night – with a smile on his face.  That is possibly all I could ask for.