You won what???

The number on my cell phone had a 212 area code, so I just let it go to voicemail.  I picked up my messages during lunch yesterday and almost dropped my phone in disbelief.   It was a very friendly voice on the message not trying to sell me anything or interest me in a timeshare for an extraordinary price, but to tell me I had won a contest.  Specifically a Christmas “memorable memories” contest I had entered online last November and promptly forgot about.  My essay was chosen as the winner!   I am sure dogs in the general vicinity of my school were howling in protest at my squeals in the range just above the perception threshold of the human ear.  My co-workers had a look of concern and a little fear watching me flap around my office screaming, having no idea if my response was something good or something very, very bad.  Luckily, they stuck around just in case they needed to call 911.

I explained my great news breathlessly to them and then there were four of us jumping around my tiny office like caffeinated Jack Russells.  I called my parents to share the news on my way home from school.  My dad answered first and I excitedly explained I had won a contest.  Before I could get any details out he congratulated me and reminded me that I would have to pay taxes on my prize, whatever it was.  That took the wind out of my sails for a minute, but who cares, I could fiddle-dee-dee my way to not thinking about it until 2011!!  My mom wasn’t home so I made my dad swear not to share my news until I could call her myself.  I called her back that afternoon, giggling like a three year old with a secret she has to tell. 

My mom answered on the third ring and swore that my dad didn’t tell her anything other than that I had called her.  “I have some great news!  You will never guess-”  She interrupted me before I could finish.  “OH!  You have a date???”   Uh no.  “Oh, you met someone interesting at least?”  Um, no again.  “Oh I know!  You lost ten pounds.  Good for you!”   Wow, I guess my life is less than spectacularly interesting lately, but she thought that was my great news?  NO, LISTEN!!!  I didn’t mean to come across harsh, but that vanished as soon as I told her about my phone call.    I had won the Sister Schubert’s Memorable Holiday Moments essay contest and not only won a prize, but the grand prize!!  “Did you win a year’s supply of their rolls?” my mom interrupted again.   Sigh.   Nope, not rolls (although very yummy).  Better.  Much better-an all expenses paid trip for four to the Mexican Riviera for five days/four nights, including air fare!!!  I never win anything, so this was beyond my wildest dreams.  My friend Jaime suggested that now I am an “award winning author”, but I think that is stretching the truth just a bit. The news rolled around in my head  for the past twenty four hours and put a smile on my face I just couldn’t get rid of.  The dreary skies of January in Atlanta seem a little brighter and the cold winds a little kinder.  Life is good.

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