Maryland Mega winner believes in magic

Sep 3, 2007, 7:24 am (64 comments)

Mega Millions

Two months ago, when a tarot card told Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett that he should slow down and focus on his spirituality, Bartlett let out an exasperated yelp. The only way that was going to happen, he thought at the time, was if he won the lottery.

Yesterday, a day after he announced that he was one of four winners of a $330 million Mega Millions prize, Bartlett was back at the White Marsh New Age shop where the tarot cards foretold his future. Frustrated no longer, Bartlett says he now has the time he needs to contemplate life, as well as a few other matters.

"I've received one marriage proposal, there was one woman who wanted to sleep with me, and one person who wants me to adopt him," said the soon-to-be former accountant.

Lottery officials will meet with Bartlett tomorrow to confirm his winning ticket. He's not sure whether he wants to take the lump sum of $49 million or an annuity, which would pay him $3.7 million a year until 2032.

But Bartlett said he knows how at least some of the money will be spent: helping shop owners Lori and Mick Perdue expand Mystickal Voyage to include a holistic healing center and yoga studio. The store has been open for about a year and already expanded once with the addition of a coffee shop. It's there that Bartlett regularly hosts "dragon coffee klatches" and conducts Reiki treatments, a form of Japanese energy healing.

Yesterday, drinks were on Bartlett. Herbal teas, that is.

"We're just ecstatic. No one deserves this more than Bunky," said Mick Perdue.

Through the store, Lori Perdue said she has met thousands of fellow Pagans and others interested in alternative religion, from all walks of life. They say they're hoping the attention from the lottery win and improvements to Mystickal Voyage will help attract new customers and dispel misconceptions about Pagans.

"There's far more [people interested in the Pagan religion] than you think," said Lori Perdue. "Five times a week, we have customers come in who are in the 'figuring it out' mode, who are pulling away from how they were raised and seeking deeper meaning. We want people to feel comfortable and welcome."

Bartlett is a practitioner of Wicca, a nature-based religion of magic and witchcraft. There are an estimated 800,000 Neo-Pagans in the United States, the largest subset being Wiccans.

Bartlett calmly sipped a cup of iced tea yesterday morning as two reporters waited to interview him and Lori Perdue fielded calls from accountants and television stations trying to set up meetings. One customer wanted to know what all the commotion was about.

"Did you hear that someone in the area won the Mega Millions?" Mick Perdue asked. "That's him."

Bartlett raised his cup nonchalantly. "Wow! that's awesome — congratulations!" the customer said.

In the background, Bartlett's 18-year-old daughter, Ashley, hovered with a video camera. She takes television production courses, and her teacher asked her to produce a segment on the family's good fortune. She has already parlayed the winnings into a new car, though she said she hopes the family doesn't change.

"It's a lot to comprehend," she said, adding, "I don't want to turn into Nicole Ritchie or Paris Hilton."

The commotion later died down, and Bartlett settled in to lead his discussion group, which included one newcomer who said he was having trouble reconciling his beliefs with his Catholic upbringing. Bartlett didn't try to steer the man toward any particular religion, instead offering resources to help him find his own way.

"I can't stress this enough — get off the Internet and go to a li-brar-y!" he barked, his media-shy wife, Denise, seated next to him.

Inevitably, the conversation sometimes found its way back to that lottery ticket, though.

"I'm just going to live my life," he told the group, when asked how the money might change things. "I'm not going anywhere. Any other questions, nonlottery related?"

Baltimore Sun

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LOTTOMIKE's avatarLOTTOMIKE

great story.i'm happy for him and hope he spends wisely.

ochoop17

I've received one marriage proposal, there was one woman who wanted to sleep with me, and one person who wants me to adopt him," said the soon-to-be former accountant.

You know Why.......$$$$$$$

Badger's avatarBadger

Quote: Originally posted by ochoop17 on Sep 3, 2007

I've received one marriage proposal, there was one woman who wanted to sleep with me, and one person who wants me to adopt him," said the soon-to-be former accountant.

You know Why.......$$$$$$$

Aw gee, ya think?  Green laugh

The one word a big JP winner needs to learn to say is NO !

four4me

art.bunky.megamillions.ap.jpg

Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett

justxploring's avatarjustxploring

Quote: Originally posted by four4me on Sep 3, 2007

art.bunky.megamillions.ap.jpg

Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett

"get off the Internet and go to a li-brar-y!" he barked 

 

Barked? 

 

Good luck to him.  I hope the wicca gods he made a deal with come forward so he doesn't have financial problems in the future.  Do they use brooms?  I guess you could call this winning the Sweepstakes. LOL  Wonder if he can handle it!  Oops!  I better be careful & use my spell check.

tnlotto1's avatartnlotto1

he seemed reallly happy in the CNN clip and he is an accountant so i doubt he will need alot of financial advice on what to do with the money. congratulations to him and his family on the huge win.

MADDOG10's avatarMADDOG10

Quote: Originally posted by four4me on Sep 3, 2007

art.bunky.megamillions.ap.jpg

Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett

catduck it's o.k. bunkie..

rundown99's avatarrundown99

Maryland lottery winners can remain anonymous.......... Did he know that????

tnlotto1's avatartnlotto1

Quote: Originally posted by rundown99 on Sep 3, 2007

Maryland lottery winners can remain anonymous.......... Did he know that????

thats a good question rundown99 but he got a new car and has been proposed to already so he may be one of the winners who enjoys the spotlight and wants as much attention as possible for himself and for his religion.

Uncle Jim

He's already come forward so the rest of you feel free to chime in with me:

...WE HOPE HE TAKES THE CASH OPTION AND WE HOPE HE DOESN'T HAVE PROBLEMS LATER IN HIS LIFE..

OK...I'll probably burn for this but I gotta say it...this guy already looks like a train wreck waiting to happen! 

1. He lives in a state that allows anonimity and he's already gone public?  It had to be him or someone close to him that called the press because the drawing was Friday and the Lottery offices are closed so they couldn't have made the announcement.

2. The drawing was Friday and this is Monday...he hasn't been to the Lottery offices yet, let alone collect his money and he's already bought a new car? 

3. He's making public promises to help fund his friend's business?

Oh well it's his life.

But I couldn't help thinking:

Hey!  It's Bunky!  The Bunkmeister!  Winning the Lotto!  Fighting off the babes!  The Bunkster!  Holding a press conference!  At the Coffee House!  With his Bunkbuddies!  Buying coffee!  Making promises!  It's a Bunk-O-Rama!  He's buying a Bunkmobile!  He's out Bunking around!  Going to a Bunkapalooza!  Funky Bunky!  Living the High Life!  

All I can say is...good luck dude!

Jim

         

delS

Uncle Jim-

You won't burn for this.  Everyone here knows you are speaking a truth - this makes absolutely no sense to put yourself out there like this.  Oh yeah right, he can handle the new world of wealth he is exposed to because he is an accountant.  Yeah get a life. 

 I am from Maryland and I appreciate that this is a state where you can claim your pize anonymously. 

Those who have played for years and seen the good, the bad, and the indifferent in winners and losers.  A marriage proposal, a new car offered, everyone and their mamma are going to be gunning for him and he'll have no peace. 

I wish him well and the other new minted millionaires from Powerball and Mega Millionaires. 

NightTrain1234's avatarNightTrain1234

<<"I can't stress this enough — get off the Internet and go to a li-brar-y!" he barked, his media-shy wife, Denise, seated next to him.<<

I wonder what his wife thinks about him being so public about this and before he has even had his ticket verified?

As far as his advice, frankly there is a lot more good/bad information out there on the internet than in a library about a wide variety of subjects.

four4me

Quote: Originally posted by delS on Sep 3, 2007

Uncle Jim-

You won't burn for this.  Everyone here knows you are speaking a truth - this makes absolutely no sense to put yourself out there like this.  Oh yeah right, he can handle the new world of wealth he is exposed to because he is an accountant.  Yeah get a life. 

 I am from Maryland and I appreciate that this is a state where you can claim your pize anonymously. 

Those who have played for years and seen the good, the bad, and the indifferent in winners and losers.  A marriage proposal, a new car offered, everyone and their mamma are going to be gunning for him and he'll have no peace. 

I wish him well and the other new minted millionaires from Powerball and Mega Millionaires. 

This is so true by now there is probably a crowd formed on his street, and where he teaches will be a mecca for the undesirables who will seek out his wealth.

tnlotto1's avatartnlotto1

Quote: Originally posted by Uncle Jim on Sep 3, 2007

He's already come forward so the rest of you feel free to chime in with me:

...WE HOPE HE TAKES THE CASH OPTION AND WE HOPE HE DOESN'T HAVE PROBLEMS LATER IN HIS LIFE..

OK...I'll probably burn for this but I gotta say it...this guy already looks like a train wreck waiting to happen! 

1. He lives in a state that allows anonimity and he's already gone public?  It had to be him or someone close to him that called the press because the drawing was Friday and the Lottery offices are closed so they couldn't have made the announcement.

2. The drawing was Friday and this is Monday...he hasn't been to the Lottery offices yet, let alone collect his money and he's already bought a new car? 

3. He's making public promises to help fund his friend's business?

Oh well it's his life.

But I couldn't help thinking:

Hey!  It's Bunky!  The Bunkmeister!  Winning the Lotto!  Fighting off the babes!  The Bunkster!  Holding a press conference!  At the Coffee House!  With his Bunkbuddies!  Buying coffee!  Making promises!  It's a Bunk-O-Rama!  He's buying a Bunkmobile!  He's out Bunking around!  Going to a Bunkapalooza!  Funky Bunky!  Living the High Life!  

All I can say is...good luck dude!

Jim

         

http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_245164345.html uncle jim you bring up alot of good points and maybe he has heard people asking him if he sought out more financial advice because in this clip they say he has. the nickname part of your comment reminded me of rob schneider on SNL next to the copy machine whenever someone came by he would give them nicknames LOL

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