For
as long as I can remember, I have always been pretty lucky. From drawing a
family member’s winning raffle ticket when I wasn’t much bigger than Clark all
the way up to winning things like free concert tickets. I have been to
countless concerts where I have left with a pick the artist played with – once, I got one while sitting in the 10th row. Landed right at my feet. Typically, I have to
forfeit said pick to a whiny older sister who tells me that she “had a moment”
with the artist who actually meant to give the pick to her (you know who you
are!), but nonetheless, they were actually given to me.
When
I lived in larger cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas, I had a way of winning
more concert tickets than I ever actually purchased. Whether I had to be caller
10, caller 30, or answer a trivia question, my phone got through the crowded
lines on a regular basis, without ever needing to redial. A quick mental count reminded me of 11 different concerts I have seen on a radio station’s dime, plus
several experiences won through random luck or writing contests, and countless goodie bags. Granted, I always have the radio on, so the law of averages
suggests that I would have several marks in the win column, but I think it
happens even more than that. I’m just plain lucky.
So
it was no surprise to me today when I got into the car for work and turned my
radio on that I heard a trivia question that I knew the answer to – it happened
to be about Vince Gill, who I just adore and happen to have tickets to see in a couple
weeks when he is in town. I grabbed my phone, dialed, instantly heard it ring and had my call
quickly answered. I gave the correct answer and immediately started answering
all sorts of questions about myself that I will need to answer correctly when I arrive at
the station to pick up my prize. The prize that I didn’t hear advertised,
because all I had time to do was hear the question and call. I incorrectly
assumed that it could be closer tickets to the upcoming concert, since Vince
was the answer and he will be here soon. After thinking about what else it
could be, while still answering a million questions, it occurred to me that our county
fair is this week and it was probably tickets to that. Finally, the thought
crossed my mind that this station periodically gives out money in increments of
$1,000! I could most definitely find something to use that on!
All
the suspense FINALLY culminated, and I was ready to hear my grand prize. Well, I
thought I was ready to hear it. I was imagining things like “you have won
backstage passes and front row seats to see Vince Gill!” or “We have a $1,000
check we are writing to your name as we speak!” Instead of hearing something
along those lines that would cause me to scream right into the phone, I heard “……gift
card”. Not wanting to be ungrateful, I was still excited to hear where I would
be spending my newfound inheritance, thinking maybe I could have a clothing
shopping spree, or a couple of really fancy dinners. I told them I was having
trouble hearing and asked them to repeat my prize. This time, all I heard was “Wendy’s”.
Quickly using my college educated brain to piece those words together and try
to think of what fancy store I knew named “Wendy’s”, I could see it flashing in
front of me: Wendy’s. Gift Card. Wendy’s. IT’S A WENDY’S GIFT CARD. I flashed
back into the conversation just in time to hear “Baconfest is currently going on at
your neighborhood Wendy’s”, which means absolutely nothing to a vegetarian like
myself.
I
went from winning coveted, front row concert tickets, backstage passes, a shopping spree, and a thousand dollars to winning a fast food gift card in an instant. If you
need me, I’ll be crying into a frosty.
