If I ever stumbled across a magic lamp and the genie offered me three wishes, I think I’d know exactly what to ask for.
Wish #1: A meeting with a publisher about my book.
I wouldn’t wish for instant publication—because I’d always wonder if I was actually good enough on my own. What I’d want instead is the chance for Tumbleweeds to be fairly seen and read by someone with the power to bring it into the world. Just one honest shot to see if my words can stand on their own.
Wish #2: Peace for my family.
Not just peace in the quiet sense, but the kind that clears away all the noise and nonsense the world keeps throwing at us. I know that’s not realistic—but this is a genie, right? So let’s say he can clear the clutter out of the way so the people I love can breathe easier, laugh more freely, and live without so much of the weight that life insists on adding.
Wish #3: A financial cushion.
I hate to resort to the money trope, but let’s be honest—a little breathing room in the bank account would do wonders. Not greed, not excess—just enough to cover the needs and leave a safe margin for a few of the wants. A vacation here and there. A new wardrobe for Daryl. A trip to the Bourbon or Tennessee Whiskey Trail every year to keep the spirits (and the stories) flowing.
Three wishes. None too wild, none too selfish. Just the kind that might make life a little freer, a little fuller—and maybe even a little more magical.
Copyright © 2025 Doug DeBolt.
