KID RULES: There cannot be craft time without LOTS and LOTS of glitter! The more shiny the more pretty the artwork!
So Friday was supposed to be my lucky day. First I got a call from the new hip, happening publication in town — ink kc — that I was the winner of two free passes to see an act at the Voodoo Lounge. I didn’t catch the name of the group. The caller seemed nice and mentioned that it was short notice. I could have said I probably wasn’t eligible based on my husband working for the same entity that publishes the new venture but I acted my age and said something like, “Well, my husband’s out of town and I’ve got two little kids and it will be really hard to get a sitter this late.”
I’m so old and boring. One of these days, I’m going to just not be so darn responsible, and just call up a girlfriend and just be spontaneous with “free” gigs. Of course, I’ll never get “choosen” again. And I’m not about to be the 17th caller to a radio station promo. I don’t even know how I got on the magazine’s list.
Then I checked the mail and a postcard stated I was selected the “winner” in a local comedy club’s weekly drawing that allowed me and seven friends to get in free. Another drawing I don’t even remember entering. (Fine print mentioned the offer was only good for a Tuesday “open mike” night or a Sunday evening where we were already MIRACLOUSLY are attending a REAL event.)
Really, these mystery prizes make me wonder if someone is going around town signing up my name. I only remember signing up a lot at the Sports Show I was dragged to by my father two years ago. I signed up for the free Branson information and sure enough, three weeks later we’re getting calls to come stay for free at Branson. At which point my husband told me NOT under any enticing prize or free year’s supply to ever sign up for ANYTHING ever again. So, I’m much more selective in my contests.
So, I wasn’t really feeling all that lucky after two chances by Lady Luck in one day. Then I picked up my daughter from Parents’ Day Out. She ran across the room, into my arms and said, “Mommy! I was missing you SO much!” After a momentary twinge of guilt, I smiled and felt like, “Yeah, I’m a winner, now!”
That was a good story- it warmed my heart. It reminds me of the first time my wife went away from home over night. Our daughter was probably 20 months old. My wife had to go to Phoenix on business for two days, and her return flight was on a Thursday night getting in about 10pm. We talked about it and decided that she would just take a cab home instead of Amanda and I picking her up at the airport at such a late hour. When the evening arrived, Amanda was in good spirits and high energy, so I decided that we should just go pick up my wife as a surprise. It was after 9-11 so we had to wait down in the foyer of the Sioux Falls airport and not at the gate. At the Sioux Falls airport, you have to take a long escalator ride to get from the foyer to the gates, it is a long, very narrow hallwaywith just one escalator running each way. So Amanda and I hid around the corner and peaked to see when my wife would finally be coming down the escalator so we could surprise her. Part of the charm about the Sioux Falls airport at 10pm is that it is one really quite place to be, all the shops are closed, there are very few people milling about- there were four people waiting in the foyer for this plane. So, when I spotted my wife coming down the escalator, I picked up my daughter and pointed to my wife and said who is that? MOMMY! she said in her loudest voice. All 30 of the people on the escalator smiled or had tears in their eyes, my wife sure was teared up. I know we made her day, probably her month. Keep up the good work.