Everyone has an idea of what will truly make them happy. But some of these wishes come with a price.
So you found the proverbial genie’s lamp washed up on the shore and begin to rub. Lo and behold, a genie with the voice of Robin Williams, appears. No wait, that’s Aladdin’s lamp. Okay, so some guy in a cloud looms large above you and with a booming message says he will grant you just one wish. Normally, it’s three, but this lamp is from Achmed’s Discount House of Magical Lamps. So you sigh and contemplate that one special wish. Now what exactly will it be? The only caveat is that it must be for yourself and quite specific. In other words, no world peace and general happiness, etc. Some of the usual choices might have unforeseen consequences. For example:
An obscene amount of money: Then the IRS arrives at your door with lots of questions for which you have no answers. I smell prison time.
The love of a celebrity or model, say Brad Pitt for a woman, Angelina Jolie for a man: Assuming they are no longer a couple, they may turn out to be quite unpleasant in their private life and make yours a living hell.
Unlimited power as a President or King: Ever heard of Watergate or the French Revolution? Enough said.
A huge house with servants: Is it on a fault line and do the servants have their green cards? Is that a tremor I feel?
A successful business empire, like Wal-Mart or Microsoft: And you get voted out by the board of directors at their next meeting. Bye-bye!
A sexy or amazing body: That could still get any number of diseases or ailments and end up looking like you do now. How sad.
Perfect health forever: Now, that’s better. But you could still be hit by a car or bus tomorrow, so make sure your will is up-to-date.
A trip back in time to a specific day: Who knows what awful circumstances you will affect for future generations by messing with the past?
Not good for the space-time continuum. Do get the picture? Newton’s law states that for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. You can’t expect to get something for nothing, even from an imaginary genie. This can be proved in a number of ways, written about and described through the centuries. It happened back in the nineties to a wonderful old man named Avery Bergman. It’s contained in an interesting tale about a man who lives to be 150 and gets another chance at life when he is transformed back into a young man. Although there was no wish involved, it still proves my point. He has many unforeseen problems and consequences with which to deal with and you can read about them in, “Pursuit of the Phoenix.” It’s a terrific adventure, sci-fi novel available from www.amazon.com or learn more by visiting the author’s site at www.jeffreyhauser.com and you’ll see what happens when an improbable wish ultimately comes true.
Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master's Degree from Monmouth University. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, "Pursuit of the Phoenix," available at amazon.com. His latest book is, "Inside the Yellow Pages." Currently, he is the Marketing Director for http://www.thenurseschoice.com, a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.
