Well, it looks like Mrs. Hillbilly Mom is a day late and not even a dollar short. Not even a DAY late! More like a matter of minutes.
Uh huh. Always the bridesmaid. The runner-up. The write-in candidate. The afterthought.
Sunday morning, I left home around 12:15 (that qualifies as MORNING at the Mansion) for my trip to town to procure a 44 oz Diet Coke and lottery. I had my mind made up. The Gas Station Chicken store had put new tickets in the case on Saturday. Not NEW tickets, but DIFFERENT tickets than they'd had over the past two weeks. I knew which ticket I wanted. One of the $10 tickets with George Washington or Ben Franklin on the front. I have trouble telling them apart. It's probably Ben, because his likeness is on the currency of higher denomination than George, who is only on the dollar.
Anyhoo...the Gas Station Chicken Store had replaced that ticket when newer ones came out, but on Saturday, I noticed it was back. So that was my plan. I had $20 of winners to cash in. I figured I'd got to Casey's first, for two $5 tickets. In case they didn't have what I wanted, I could always take the cash back and use it also at the GSCS. Surely you didn't think I would save that money...
So...I went up the connecting alley-like road, across the parking lot of Farmer H's pharmacy, to get to Casey's. They had what I wanted, so I got two tickets and drove back over to the GSCS. When I cashed in my other winner there, and asked for the $10 Ben Franklin ticket, the Man Owner who waited on me hesitated.
"The guy who was here just before you had a $200 winner on his ticket..."
"OH! Never mind, then! I'll take the one next to it." Which turned out to be a loser, but lottery is a gamble, you know.
Thing is...I knew I wanted that ticket. I usually leave home between 11:30 and noon on Sundays, but the GSCS is kind of crowded with people buying CHICKEN after church. So I waited a little longer this time, and then went to Casey's first.
Looks like I shouldn't have altered my routine! There was a $200 winner waiting for me, and I let it slip right out of that glass case and into someone else's hands!
Oh, well. He was meant to get it. My luck is on the fritz.
I'm guessing you will never leave home so late again, missing out on $200 would eat at my mind for at last a week.
ReplyDeleteTiming. Life is all about timing! I'm always a nano-second too late for all the best things. Still, second best is often pretty good, although I must admit the difference between $200 and $0 isn't quite so good!
ReplyDeleteAround My Kitchen Table
River,
ReplyDeleteYeah, sometimes I'd rather not know. But I DO appreciate the tip so I didn't buy the very next ticket.
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Table,
This was one time it didn't pay to be second, that's for sure!
I think Even Steven is screwing around with you!!
ReplyDeletethe luck of the draw ...
ReplyDeletefishducky,
ReplyDeleteEven Steven DOES toy with me more than I feel is necessary!
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Kathy,
This was a case of the almost-luck of the draw.