My very best wins have all consisted of narrowly missing disaster. If a heavy chandelier suddenly falls from the high ceiling it will crash into the ground two inches from me and I'll be fine. In a Cessna plane crash, my seat belt broke and sent me flying out the side window as we hit the ground. That saved me from being decapitated by a tree limb. I can name a dozen other near misses. I'll never find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I won't stumble off the edge of a cliff while I'm looking for it. That's pretty good luck.
I won an actual car. A 2005 Prius to be exact. My kids went to a very expensive private school. I was fortunate enough to get them in on full scholarship. They were the token poor kids. One day I had to go in and sign some papers. The secretary asked if I had entered the raffle for the Gala they put on every year. I responded with “no, I never win those things”. I will never forget she looked at me and said, you will never win if you don’t get in the game. So I bought one ticket. It was 100 dollars. That was so much money for me, but I figured I have 3 kids on scholarship so I can give a little bit back.
I went to the Gala that year and as I passed the car, parked on the lawn with a big red bow on it I said to my friends, look out, don’t scratch the paint on my car, lol. Later on my friends and I were sitting there talking about how short the woman’s dress was who was announcing, just muddying up my karma. Then she says, time to see who wins the car. So I say “Ok you guys, shut up, she’s getting ready to give me my car”. Playin, you know? She reaches her hand in and pulls out the ticket and says “Catherine…” and in the nanosecond between her saying the first and last name I told myself don’t think it’s you. It’s a different Catherine. But it was me. Girl I put my hands up and screamed like it was The Price Is Right! I ran to the front of that stage, hitched up my chiffon skirt and climbed up there, it didn’t even occur to me to go around to the steps Lord! I was jumping up and down ghetto as hell. In the meantime my friend had run to another building in the school to get my daughter who was taking coats. She burst in the room and said “your mom just won the car”!! My daughter folded her arms and said yeah right, you’re not funny. She finally convinced her and just as I get calmed down enough to make a little speech and say thank you, here comes my daughter screaming into the room, runs up to the front of the stage and I haul her up. We were jumping and screaming like fools. The best part was that everyone was really happy for me. I was broke as hell and really needed that car.
Those of us of a certain age might recall games on the back of cereal boxes. I think corn flakes. You were supposed to check off a list of all the items you could see in the picture on the back of the box. Some were tricky. I set to entering and gave my entry to mom to mail in. One day I came home and I heard music coming from the living room. I didn’t think we had a “stereo”. There sat on top of the TV a streamlined cream colored Motorola hi/fi and it was all mine. I was probably 10 or 11 and I was so excited. I don’t know how my parents kept the secret. Oh yes, something to play 45s on like Twist and Shout. I like surprises and I really liked winning. Then there were the Beatles tickets I won to their concert in Pittsburgh, another story for another day. Everyone suddenly wanted to be my friend but I took my brother. Especially since my mom bested me on that by getting invited to their press conference. 😎
In the summer of '67 I won a huge window unit air conditioner. I was nine years old. I guessed the closest time that a huge iceberg (actually a great big pile of ice) would melt. I was about one minute off, that was the closest guess of all the entrants. It was a promotion for a local used car dealer, and I and my mother also were invited to "appear" on a local radio program to talk about the win. That a/c kept us cool in Alabama until I went to college.
The setting: Late 1970s, Circus Circus Las Vegas, the area where the kids played games. I won a huge stuffed animal of a lion that was so big we had to strap it on top of the car when we drove home. Everyone honked at us on the ride home with thumbs ups! We had that lion for a long time and many cats slept on its head. It was an awesome win because I was the youngest of all the kids (around 9 years old) and won something that was worth money. My dad, an immigrant from India, could not believe I won such a huge prize for a quarter. He bragged about that to anyone who would listen. Perhaps my greatest achievement in his eyes. LOL.
Does a massive windfall count? A secondary tender offer for the startup that I work for - the main nut (still un-tendered) is for a condo, but the secondary nut...turns out to be for the down payment on said BORING TOYOTA COROLLA, and an upgrade in furniture.
But I worry. About how my fam is gonna judge me for those purchases. "Do you strictly NEED a new couch?"
I won $10,000 without trying! Was a poor college student, all my tuition paid with grant money. I had so many part-time jobs, and picked up a house/pet sitting job. The man flew overseas to take his daughter to college, and paid me for my work, and then have a free raffle ticket to boot. He "joked" that if I won I could take him dinner...... I didn't take him to dinner, but did take the money! I'm unsure of how many tickets were printed, but it's a pretty big event every year. I didn't feel bad, and used the money to leave a terrible living situation. However, the first night after winning I couldn't sleep. It was stunning that I won.
Losing streak has been consistent in the seventeen years since 🤣 Not really, but I need more money than I am likely to earn, and want to build a small home in my woods. So, I guess just knowing that I own an acre of wooded land is pulling out of the losing streak.
And E. Jean, you look very cute in your Lone Ranger outfit! I hope you put it to good use!
2. The competition was so stiff I didn’t apply for the entering awards. I was too embarrassed to try.
3. I was entering top student in the doctoral program.
4. I’m always sure I couldn’t possibly have been the one chosen by the committee. Then I’d wait for someone to tell me they’d made a mistake and that someone else got into the program.
5. I don’t think I’ve had a losing streak since 9th grade in school. Latin threw me off however, so I quit and had to do an extra year starting with German.
6. I pulled myself out of it by not studying the average way. I didn’t miss any lectures. I listened to every word. Instead of studying the usual way, I wrote pages of what I had learned for the day and wrote tons about it. Then I became good at school and pleased that I was allowed to do things a bit differently.
The first thing I ever won was a cake. In a cakewalk. What kind of cake? Who knows? I was thrilled by the principle of the thing.
The best thing I’ve ever won was an award for best crisis communications plan from the PR Society of America’s LA chapter. I was thrilled. I didn’t feel bad for anyone—in fact I felt I should have taken first place rather than runner-up, but it’s all good. I still have the trophy.
I won tickets for two, from Sirius radio on FB in 2013 to see the traditional Thanksgiving concert by Arlo, his family, and Pete Seeger at Carnegie Hall. Sadly, it was Pete's last Thanksgiving concert. I got to go backstage to meet everyone. Arlo's daughter, Sarah Lee was a sweetheart and got her dad to autograph my playbill. I got to give Pete and gentle hug. He was so weak he was using 2 canes to support himself. It was a damn fine concert that I will never forget. P.S. I didn't win mine, but I too had a terrific cowgirl outfit with hat, fringe vest/skirt, some fine boots, and a holster for my cap pistol. I can smell it in my memory.
I “booked” (got the highest grade) in a class my freshman year in law school. I still don’t know how the hell it happened because the professor couldn’t stand me. I was often unprepared and didn’t think I would make it past the first semester. Needless to say, I was shocked when the professor called out my name. But I was even more shocked (and pissed) when I heard the gasps of disbelief from some of the asshole men in my class who clearly thought I was just some dumb girl/hick. That “win” gave me the confidence to stick it out. I graduated with honors.
YOU WIN! YOU WIN! YOU WIN!
I recently won a national poetry competition that had over a thousand entries. I was and am DELIRIOUSLY HAPPY.
Three days ago on the 4th of July I bought 5 raffle tickets for $20 and won a beautiful acoustic guitar!
My very best wins have all consisted of narrowly missing disaster. If a heavy chandelier suddenly falls from the high ceiling it will crash into the ground two inches from me and I'll be fine. In a Cessna plane crash, my seat belt broke and sent me flying out the side window as we hit the ground. That saved me from being decapitated by a tree limb. I can name a dozen other near misses. I'll never find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but I won't stumble off the edge of a cliff while I'm looking for it. That's pretty good luck.
I love your upbeat declarations! Everytime I read what you post, I smile; so, I feel like I won just by reading the blurb you sent. ✌️
I won an actual car. A 2005 Prius to be exact. My kids went to a very expensive private school. I was fortunate enough to get them in on full scholarship. They were the token poor kids. One day I had to go in and sign some papers. The secretary asked if I had entered the raffle for the Gala they put on every year. I responded with “no, I never win those things”. I will never forget she looked at me and said, you will never win if you don’t get in the game. So I bought one ticket. It was 100 dollars. That was so much money for me, but I figured I have 3 kids on scholarship so I can give a little bit back.
I went to the Gala that year and as I passed the car, parked on the lawn with a big red bow on it I said to my friends, look out, don’t scratch the paint on my car, lol. Later on my friends and I were sitting there talking about how short the woman’s dress was who was announcing, just muddying up my karma. Then she says, time to see who wins the car. So I say “Ok you guys, shut up, she’s getting ready to give me my car”. Playin, you know? She reaches her hand in and pulls out the ticket and says “Catherine…” and in the nanosecond between her saying the first and last name I told myself don’t think it’s you. It’s a different Catherine. But it was me. Girl I put my hands up and screamed like it was The Price Is Right! I ran to the front of that stage, hitched up my chiffon skirt and climbed up there, it didn’t even occur to me to go around to the steps Lord! I was jumping up and down ghetto as hell. In the meantime my friend had run to another building in the school to get my daughter who was taking coats. She burst in the room and said “your mom just won the car”!! My daughter folded her arms and said yeah right, you’re not funny. She finally convinced her and just as I get calmed down enough to make a little speech and say thank you, here comes my daughter screaming into the room, runs up to the front of the stage and I haul her up. We were jumping and screaming like fools. The best part was that everyone was really happy for me. I was broke as hell and really needed that car.
Those of us of a certain age might recall games on the back of cereal boxes. I think corn flakes. You were supposed to check off a list of all the items you could see in the picture on the back of the box. Some were tricky. I set to entering and gave my entry to mom to mail in. One day I came home and I heard music coming from the living room. I didn’t think we had a “stereo”. There sat on top of the TV a streamlined cream colored Motorola hi/fi and it was all mine. I was probably 10 or 11 and I was so excited. I don’t know how my parents kept the secret. Oh yes, something to play 45s on like Twist and Shout. I like surprises and I really liked winning. Then there were the Beatles tickets I won to their concert in Pittsburgh, another story for another day. Everyone suddenly wanted to be my friend but I took my brother. Especially since my mom bested me on that by getting invited to their press conference. 😎
In the summer of '67 I won a huge window unit air conditioner. I was nine years old. I guessed the closest time that a huge iceberg (actually a great big pile of ice) would melt. I was about one minute off, that was the closest guess of all the entrants. It was a promotion for a local used car dealer, and I and my mother also were invited to "appear" on a local radio program to talk about the win. That a/c kept us cool in Alabama until I went to college.
The setting: Late 1970s, Circus Circus Las Vegas, the area where the kids played games. I won a huge stuffed animal of a lion that was so big we had to strap it on top of the car when we drove home. Everyone honked at us on the ride home with thumbs ups! We had that lion for a long time and many cats slept on its head. It was an awesome win because I was the youngest of all the kids (around 9 years old) and won something that was worth money. My dad, an immigrant from India, could not believe I won such a huge prize for a quarter. He bragged about that to anyone who would listen. Perhaps my greatest achievement in his eyes. LOL.
Does a massive windfall count? A secondary tender offer for the startup that I work for - the main nut (still un-tendered) is for a condo, but the secondary nut...turns out to be for the down payment on said BORING TOYOTA COROLLA, and an upgrade in furniture.
But I worry. About how my fam is gonna judge me for those purchases. "Do you strictly NEED a new couch?"
I won $10,000 without trying! Was a poor college student, all my tuition paid with grant money. I had so many part-time jobs, and picked up a house/pet sitting job. The man flew overseas to take his daughter to college, and paid me for my work, and then have a free raffle ticket to boot. He "joked" that if I won I could take him dinner...... I didn't take him to dinner, but did take the money! I'm unsure of how many tickets were printed, but it's a pretty big event every year. I didn't feel bad, and used the money to leave a terrible living situation. However, the first night after winning I couldn't sleep. It was stunning that I won.
Losing streak has been consistent in the seventeen years since 🤣 Not really, but I need more money than I am likely to earn, and want to build a small home in my woods. So, I guess just knowing that I own an acre of wooded land is pulling out of the losing streak.
And E. Jean, you look very cute in your Lone Ranger outfit! I hope you put it to good use!
While attending a travel company seminar my business card was drawn: I won a three week trip to China, all expenses paid. No regrets!
1. I was invited to apply for a doctoral program.
2. The competition was so stiff I didn’t apply for the entering awards. I was too embarrassed to try.
3. I was entering top student in the doctoral program.
4. I’m always sure I couldn’t possibly have been the one chosen by the committee. Then I’d wait for someone to tell me they’d made a mistake and that someone else got into the program.
5. I don’t think I’ve had a losing streak since 9th grade in school. Latin threw me off however, so I quit and had to do an extra year starting with German.
6. I pulled myself out of it by not studying the average way. I didn’t miss any lectures. I listened to every word. Instead of studying the usual way, I wrote pages of what I had learned for the day and wrote tons about it. Then I became good at school and pleased that I was allowed to do things a bit differently.
The first thing I ever won was a cake. In a cakewalk. What kind of cake? Who knows? I was thrilled by the principle of the thing.
The best thing I’ve ever won was an award for best crisis communications plan from the PR Society of America’s LA chapter. I was thrilled. I didn’t feel bad for anyone—in fact I felt I should have taken first place rather than runner-up, but it’s all good. I still have the trophy.
That picture! Now we know you were a legend from the get go! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
I won tickets for two, from Sirius radio on FB in 2013 to see the traditional Thanksgiving concert by Arlo, his family, and Pete Seeger at Carnegie Hall. Sadly, it was Pete's last Thanksgiving concert. I got to go backstage to meet everyone. Arlo's daughter, Sarah Lee was a sweetheart and got her dad to autograph my playbill. I got to give Pete and gentle hug. He was so weak he was using 2 canes to support himself. It was a damn fine concert that I will never forget. P.S. I didn't win mine, but I too had a terrific cowgirl outfit with hat, fringe vest/skirt, some fine boots, and a holster for my cap pistol. I can smell it in my memory.
I “booked” (got the highest grade) in a class my freshman year in law school. I still don’t know how the hell it happened because the professor couldn’t stand me. I was often unprepared and didn’t think I would make it past the first semester. Needless to say, I was shocked when the professor called out my name. But I was even more shocked (and pissed) when I heard the gasps of disbelief from some of the asshole men in my class who clearly thought I was just some dumb girl/hick. That “win” gave me the confidence to stick it out. I graduated with honors.