Walking in the Valley A weekly column for those who live and walk in Silicon Valley by Barbara Dahlgren

Who wants to be a millionaire? All right, I admit it. I'd love to have some more money. I'd try to get on that show except I can never get those four things at the beginning in the right order. I do great on the other questions in my easy chair at home but I know if I got on the show I'd get so nervous that I'd miss the $100 question. It would be something like, "And what is the first letter of your last name?" I'd probably answer, "Q?" or something equally as stupid. Then they would say, "Barbara Dahlgren, you ARE the weakest link! Good bye!" Yes, I know it's a different show but you get the general idea.

If I did win a million dollars, I wouldn't want anyone to know it. No wonder that San Jose retired supermarket clerk, Alcario Castellano took so long to claim the $141 million from his winning lotto ticket. Seeing the media camped out in front of the liquor store where the ticket was sold would be a wee bit intimidating for anyone. And of course you have to then deal with the charities, relatives, and dealmakers who will all want a "piece of the pie." And the more money you have, the more credit you can get. Just think there are hundreds of ways to blow your newfound fortune. You can produce a movie, cut a record, invest in a friend's business, play the stock market, or just live in Silicon Valley.

A million dollars doesn't go very far in Silicon Valley. Maybe you could afford to have your happy meal super sized or something, but that's about it. If you want to see a concert you could pay anywhere from $130 for U2 or the Backstreet Boys to $185 for Elton John/Billy Joel tickets or $300 for a Tony Bennett gala. Live theater tickets are just as bad if you want to go to San Francisco and see a Tony winning show with an established star. Even the San Jose American Musical Theater has gone way up. Just two years ago you were able to get a season ticket in the nose bleed section for $40. Now they are almost $200. San Francisco Giants tickets are up 13%, which isn't much for a single ticket but can really add up if you are season ticket holder. There isn't even a cheap time to go to the movies anymore with matinee prices up to at least $7.

So much for being entertained. Let's just talk about living. To put gas in your tank can cost anywhere from $20 to $100, depending on what you drive and where you fill up. Housing is sky high. Energy costs are sky high. Yes, I could use a million or so dollars.

Many think the Bible says that money is the root of all evil. Not true. It's the love of money that gets you into trouble (1 Timothy 6:10). Money is just like anything else. It can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you use it. If it is your whole focus in life it can be very unhealthy. If you just want money to buy bigger and better toys, impress people, or feel good about yourself then you will learn the hard way that money can't buy you happiness. But if I'm already happy, what could a little money hurt? Like the Fiddler on the Roof man sang, "If I were a rich man, yada yada yada yada dinkle dinkle dum….," or something like that.

To be honest, I have a lot to be thankful for. When it comes to money I'm just like most of you, not rich or poor. It's not such a bad place to be according to Proverbs 30:7-10. If we have too much money we tend to forget God, if we have too little we tend to curse Him.

So do I want to be a millionaire? Maybe, maybe not. But a little more money wouldn't hurt. "I wouldn't have to work hard, yada yada yada yada dinkle dinkle dum….." or something like that.

©July 2001

Be sure to visit this page every week to read the next edition of Walking in the Valley. You can write to the author at bydahlgren@aol.com.