I Won A Trip To New York City

and took the kids!

Christmas Eve, 1998

Closing date for the New York Competition at my local shopping centre. I gathered up the last few entries to put into the giant barrel with the thought that if they were on top, I might have a better chance of winning.

When I arrived at the shops, it was bucketing down and being Christmas Eve, the parking lot was packed. I parked in the furthest corner, took my sandals off, and ran barefoot into the mall. Just as I arrived to pop the entries into the barrel, the security woman said no more entries! Bugger! All that effort for nothing! I thought to myself, “ Serve you right if I win, you b….!”

I had an hour to kill until the drawing time, but I had done all of my shopping and had nothing left to buy. I wandered around looking at books and shoes — as one does. I came back to the centre of the mall to witness the draw. I had visualised my winning, but when my name was called out, I was struck dumb. Did I hear correctly? The announcer repeated my name. I put my hand up. Luckily I’m tall or I wouldn’t have been noticed in the crowd. I walked up to the stage.

The security woman recognised me. I was probably still looking like a drowned rat. She said, “You! See you didn’t need those last entries.” I started chatting to her like we were best friends.

“Did I really win or am I dreaming?” It was really an out-of-body experience. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat and wondered what proof I would get of the win. It wasn’t going to be any good going home and saying to my family I won a trip to New York. No one would believe me.

I was taken to the Centre Management office and they printed off a certificate on official paper, put it in a frame, and wrapped it in Hyperdome wrapping paper. And they gave me a big golf umbrella so I didn’t get wet walking back to my car. (I still have that umbrella!) I decided I would keep the win a secret until Christmas morning — the biggest secret I’d ever kept — I’m not good at keeping secrets and put the wrapped certificate under the Christmas tree with my husband’s name on it.

Christmas Morning

As you can imagine, I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, but I was determined not to spoil the surprise. I videoed his opening the last gift. All he could say was “Bullshit… bullshit…bullshit…you’re bullshitting me!” I kept shaking my head and laughing. The kids got in on the act — dancing around like lunatics — “We’re going to New York! We’re going to New York!”

The prize

The prize included 6 nights in New York at the Milford Plaza Hotel and return airfares. It’s a bloody long way from Brisbane to NYC, so we decided to extend the 6 days, hire a car and drive down to Norfolk, Virginia, Washington DC and many of the Civil War Battlefields including Gettysburg. I think we went to 7 states in 7 days! What a fantastic trip!

PS I actually intended to write about taking the kids on holiday to New York. I was inspired by Allison Ditmer.