Ever Won?

The 'special question project' poses this as the next question:  
Have you ever won anything?

The very first thing that popped into my mind is a cake walk at my children's elementary school.   You walk around a circle taped onto the floor, which is divided into blocks with numbers.  When the music stops, a number is pulled out of the fish bowl.  If you are standing on the winning number, you win a cake.  And I did!

I do remember winning a Creative Writing Award when I was in my senior year at college.  I had submitted a short story to the campus literary magazine.  Awards are presented at the college Assemblies, where attendance was required.  I was not in attendance to receive this award, since I was doing my student teaching at a Junior High in another part of the state.   But when I look back on "things won",  that would stand out in my mind as something I would really want to win.

Another "winning experience" was at the Community Arts Challenge, exactly 43 years later, in 2010.   An Arts Center sponsors this event every year and reveals a theme. Then "artists" of all kinds enter in various categories from Writing, to Music, to Painting, to Sculpture, to Photography.   My entry was a poem on the theme that year:  Community.

We were new residents to the community, and I did not really know anyone and no one really knew me, so I certainly had no expectation of winning.  But I did---First Place Prize in Writing!!  That was a thrill because it was so unexpected! 

Since then, I have worked collaboratively with a musician, and we always enter for Original Song, for which I have written the lyrics, and she has written the music.  We always win first place in that category.   But that is different since it is a joint effort.

I have participated in and won medals in the Senior Games for tennis a couple of times---mixed doubles with Gerry.  Just being able to compete is a win in itself.

But most of all, I "won the lottery" in the Husband category.  And I am still reaping the benefits of that particular lottery win.

I would have to say that I am definitely a "winner" because all of my dreams have come true.  Great marriage.  A beautiful home.  Lovely children.  Meaningful work. God-given talents. Good health.  Friends.

Faith, hope, love, these three.  But one of them is best of all!  And my heart is filled with it!