I sincerely believe that this story needs to be told. It is a realization of one of my fears, and it is just too good to pass up. If you're reading this, my challenge to you is to invite at least one friend to read it, too. Believe me, you won't be disappointed! Unless you have really high expectations of this blog, and then you might be. In that case, you probably shouldn't have quite such high expectations, because after all, this isn't really that exciting of a blog in the grand scheme of things. So, there is my disclaimer. Take it as you will.
I need to preface this story with a story: When I was younger, my family and I ate at Taco Bell one night during one of their promotional games. You peel off the little sticker on your drink cup and see what you won. It was actually pretty rare that anyone won anything, so I was ecstatic when I peeled mine off and saw the word "WINNER!" I jumped up and down, really excited-like. I had won something! Then, my mom took the piece to see what I had won, and upon further inspection, realized that I had won a taco. Yep, a taco. Not even nachos or a drink or something that I liked (because as I mentioned, I was younger and had not yet refined my tastes to where they are today). A taco. And thus inspired my irrational fear of winning something mediocre, but being really excited about it. I said it was irrational.
Yesterday afternoon, I returned home from work to see some mail in my mailbox. This never happens, so I was pretty excited. I received a mailing from a local car dealership. Boring, right? Wrong! This one had a key taped to it! That really intrigued me, as it was intended, so I began reading the flier. It had one of those little, scratch-off-and-win-something-if-you're-lucky-enough kind of boxes. So, I did, knowing that I never win anything and I would most likely be disappointed. But what do you know, I scratched off the little silver covering and lo and behold, I won. But, the kicker is that you have to call the dealership to see what you won. So, I worked up the courage to call. The lady told me that, yes, I had indeed won SOMETHING. She couldn't tell me what I had won, so I had to go to the dealership to claim my prize. It was either a new car, $1000 or up to $100 in gold. WOW! I was really skeptical, but I have some wonderful friends who are good sports and they said they would go with me to see if I had won that new car. Of course, the dealership was on the outskirts of town, but that was okay. I had won something!
As soon as we pulled into the lot, I knew this would be awkward. We walked into the building and were directed to a little office. I walked in and handed her my winning scratch-off paper and she told me the rules. Then she took my information. Oh boy, now I'm on their mailing list. :D Then she entered my number into the computer which then spit out an answer. It was SO exciting! And then...
"Well, you didn't win $100 this time, but you won a dollar!"
A dollar. That's right. I won a gold dollar coin! This was only made better when the lady felt the need to tell me that it was not a token, it was a real dollar that I could spend. Really? But, I was so stinkin' excited! I have never won anything, and just because I decided to play along and scratch off the silver film, I won a dollar!!!! Words cannot express how exciting this was/is to me. I mean, how often do you win a dollar? Not very often, let me tell you.
We drove off the lot, laughing so loudly they could probably hear us, reveling in my winnings. It didn't even matter that we had probably spent more in gas to get out there than I had actually won.
And that is the story of my golden ticket. Please share it.
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