I am not much of a contest guy. I don’t buy lottery tickets or any other kind of tickets and I hate casinos. Games of chance leave me cold.
I especially can’t stand the silliness of calling into a radio show, hoping to be the special one who gets through and wins four tickets to the fall fair. And yet, I am aware that there are a lot of people who do just that. Maybe I am too lazy, but I just can’t get myself well organized enough to call the deejay and warble out my answer to the question of the hour.
So, that is my stand on radio contests and nothing will ever change my mind about that.
The other day, I met my neighbour out walking her dog, I was walking mine. We engaged in a little chit chat.
“Well, I just got back from picking up my cheque,” she said, out of the blue. “Oh no,” I immediately thought. “She’s been let go at work and went to get her final pay.” I felt sorry for her. I have been there and have felt the devastation of being tossed onto the trash heap.
“The cheque?” I asked, cautiously, not wanting to be too intrusive.
“Yes, my cheque from the radio contest I won through Radio 104,” she replied. “I was the 104th caller and got through, and then I had to give them a number to see if I hit the bullseye. My niece shouted out a number, I gave that number to the radio station and I won.”
Well, I thought, that’s pretty cool. I was glad she was still employed and was sure she could use the couple hundred dollars she probably won.
“Do you mind me asking how much you won?” I said to her, nosily.
“Not at all,” she replied. “I won $10,104.”
Then she prattled on about the contest and how hard it was to be the 104th caller and how she was going to save the money for a special trip.
But I didn’t hear much of that. I was already planning my next day’s activities. Which would involve a radio and my lucky phone.
Radio contests are the best.
©2017 Jim Hagarty
