Friday, June 12, 2009

Filthy Rich (Temporarily)

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How would you feel if, in your hand, there is a million dollar bill? What will you do if you just received ONE million dollar bills? Awestruck? Astonished beyond relief? Thinking that you’re going to be filthy rich? Because it’s ONE MILLION DOLLAR BILL we’re talking about.

And, believe it or not, I’ve been there.

So, here’s the story. My dad suddenly came this evening. He said he needed my aunt’s help—which, in an instant, she said she can’t help—about something related to English. It turns out that he was carrying a million dollar bill—completed with a genuine certificate—that was belonged to an old lady somewhere-or-other, and currently trying to find out how to “liquefy” it (the suitable phrase in Indonesian would be “mencairkan”, but I just can’t find out the exact synonym). This old lady was once worked in USA, and got that bill as payment. And, believe it or not, she has two of them! She said, she just need 1 million and five hundred thousand rupiahs and will give the rest to my dad.

And, in that instant, I was thinking, Wow, I’m going to be filthy rich! I can buy that iPod Touch I’ve been looking for! As you see, one US Dollar is worth eleven thousand rupiahs. Just multiply that number by a million and subtract one million rupiahs for it, that’s the amount of money me and my family will get. My father even thinks of building an orphan house by that money.

One question remains: how can we turn that scrap of paper into a huge heap of money?

Sounds of pessimistic first heard when we found out that the bill was printed in 1988. My aunt then told us that any dollar bill older than 2000 must be spend inside US and is unable to change into another currency outside US. And, she said that the largest printed bill of dollar is only one hundred thousand, not a million.

Filled with curiosity, I read the back of the “exclusive” envelope that enclosed it. And… guess what? It’s not even money! It’s just a limited-edition, collectible item! It is said in the envelope that “The Million Dollar Bill (That’s right. They’d done a great job making this thing sounds so grand) is not genuine U.S. currency, but it could be the catalyst to achieve real wealth.”

Just pay attention to that “real” word on the sentence.
According to the envelope, this is a great present for everyone (making it less likely to be real; who would like to give one million dollar away to anyone?). This bill will also making the receiver feels like he/she is going to be rich soon. As quoted from the envelope, “Your Million Dollar Bill (oh yeah, I’m copying it exactly the same as it was written, and it’s another bold here) is a ‘mental note’ reminding you of what you can have.”

Another attention, please, to the last, bolded phrase.

So, what is it? I don’t know. One thing for sure, this is NOT a REAL million dollar bill. Just some limited-edition, collectible item that won’t turn into a heap of money if brought to money changer. But, it might be worth more that a million with an exact customer.

So, anyone here interested into a uniquely-antique, perfectly-made, limited edition one million dollar bill? Serious collectors (with serious bid of course) please call me in 085624844520. Thank you.