Let me set the scene.
Our Nashville office employs 400-500 people. We have a daytime luncheon with good food, give aways, dancing, some imbibing, and merriment all around. For the first time the party was held in a new location. Three movies played on the walls (Miracle on 34th Street, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Rudolph the Red nosed Reindeer.) There was food. Good food. Buffets! The most popular of which was the Mashed Potato Martini Bar. Our choice of mashed potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet mashed potatoes, and lots of toppings…which we put in martini glasses! How festive is that?
Every year the President/CEO and various Officers say a few words. This year we once again celebrated surpassing our competitors in revenue. Then we got to the part which everyone anticipates. Raffle prizes. As a fairly staunch anti-gambler I’ve struggled with the question, “to raffle or not to raffle?”. After sitting through years of Christmas parties with no anticipation of winning I gave in and started buying a book or two. It’s a lot more fun when there is the possibility of winning. LYLASarah had won twice. Sadly, I have never won. Not even a centerpiece. I had all but given up hope.
This year, as I sat next to LYLASarah, I heard name after name called out announcing winners. Twenty employees stood at the front of the room with lunchboxes that held the names of a prizes, “Deal Or No Deal” Style. X-Boxes, Nashville Predators Tickets, Best Buy Gift Cards, iPods, TN Titans’ Tickets, DVD/VCR combos, et cetera.
Then, Sarah’s name was called! Yeah!!!!!! She jumped up, arms in the air, and SCREAMED. “WWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” I’m talking Excited Price is Right Contestant Hall of Fame. Everyone thinks Sarah is so clam and quiet. They have no idea. I loved her enthusiasm, confidence, and willingness to live with such Dangerous Wonder. It was brilliant. By-the-way, she won a fancy smancy GPS system.
Prize Tally
Sarah = 3
Jennifer = 0
The twenty prizes in the lunchboxes were given away. Two more prizes. The big ones. Our former President/CEO began the custom of putting her frequent flyer miles into two continental U.S. plane tickets as one of the grand prizes. This year’s other grand prize was a really really nice tv. Let me restate that. A really really really really really nice tv. When Del Bryant called my name everything turned to slow motion. Yes, I won the really really really really really nice tv. It took eleven Christmas parties. But I won. And I won BIG I won Samsung 40” Wide Screen LCD HDTV big.
Wow.
I’m guessing that most of my co-workers who jovially exclaim, “SUPER BOWL PARTY AT
JENNIFER’S!!!”, have no idea that I now live in Bowling Green.
I won.
I won a really nice tv that seems so extravagant that I almost feel guilty.
I said almost.
After all, it took me eleven parties to win it.
7 comments:
Oooh!! Santa came early. Yay for you. I'd have wet my pants or something right then and there. Enjoy that tv.
while they were giving out some of the prizes i got up to use the restroom. and i'm really glad i did or i would have wet my pants!
WOW! Impressive! I am so proud for you! :)
Congratulations! Like you said, you worked hard for it. Don't feel guilty!
Congrats!
I think it disappoints nonwinners when you don't hoot and holler Sarah-style. Good fer her.
PS-Prayers and carols at my work Christmas party. Sigh.
i have never experienced such a christmas party!
in my current job there are five of us . . . so in January, alll of the spouses will join us and the 10 of us will go have an over the top dinner out somewhere. it's no pair of round trip tickets but it isn't so bad! esp. considering we are all contractors!
I'm so coming over there to have a movie/knit night with you!
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