Confessions of a Winner

I am a competitive person. Oh, I try to control myself in group gatherings, but the symptoms are still there. When I attend a baby shower, my heart races, my arm pits sweat, and I can barely enjoy the inevitably-present plethora of delicious food until I've won a game. I don't care what game it is. I don't care if the prize is a candle, a gift card, or an Almond Joy (ironically named, in my opinion, since the idea of a candy bar made with coconut makes me want to vomit). I just want to win. And I usually do.

Now, to be fair, I not only enjoy winning games, but I also enjoy playing them. I love attending a good game night with friends. I try to be on my best behavior. I usually give myself a little pep talk ahead of time about how the point of the evening is to have fun, get to know friends, etc., etc., blah blah blah. I like to think that I conduct myself appropriately at such events, though some sarcastic remarks may occasionally escape my tongue. It is not unusual for me to practice deep breathing to try to settle myself down during a heated game of charades. What can I say? We all have our own demons to fight, right?

I don't limit my love of winning to times like playing games, however, where I do have some control over the outcome. Oh, no, dear friend and devoted reader. I am a big fan of being a winner in the door prize genre as well. Sometimes, I get teased for having the uncanny ability of getting my name pulled out of the proverbial hat at almost every party or event. I used to deny it—because I was focusing on the times when I didn't win. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I have noticed that my name does seem to be chosen more than others at such things. I like it like that!

Take my local library's summer reading program, for example. This was the first year I decided to submit an entry of each book I'd read over the summer. Well, summer got busy and I only ever did enter my June titles. The day before the contest was to end, while at the library, I grabbed a bunch of slips to fill out and turn in the next day, but before I could get to the task I got a phone call telling me I'd won a prize!

“I won a Vermeer coffee table book from the library!” I beamed to my neighbor, Kathy. After a short discussion on Vermeer, Kathy practically pointed out that I do not even own a coffee table. “I know,” I replied somewhat defensively, “but that's hardly the point. The point is that I won something!” Kathy just chuckled at my glee.

Apparently, my luck has rubbed off on my family. Last Friday night we attended an outdoor sing-along showing of The Sound of Music. During intermission, many door prizes were distributed. Yours truly was holding the very first golden ticket. When I returned to my seat with my prize, my Michael just shook his head and mumbled something about, “You really do always win these things. I've never won anything in my life.” (Or was that second comment what he said when I won my beloved coffee table book?)

Well, my Michael had to eat his words. His ticket number was called, too! As was Maia's and Mackenna's. That's right; the Hunters were four for six in the door prize department. 4:6! It makes my heart sing.

It embarrassed my Michael beyond words. He almost wouldn't get up to go get his prize. What do you think that says about him? Me, I was dragging my kids up there to get their goods, clapping all the while with a grin that stretched from one ear to the other. What does that say about me? Never mind, I don't care. We won!

Oh, and Kathy? You don't have to have a coffee table to enjoy a good coffee table book, you know.

If only my good luck would ever pay off with that whole HGTV Dream Home thing...