When I was about 9 or 10 years old, I won a bike at the VFW Christmas Party. I couldn't believe it! I did not even know how to ride a bike. I was not the most co ordinated of children. It looked something like this It was pink and white, with a banana seat and hand brakes! HAND BRAKES! None of the other kids had banana seats and handbrakes! My cool factor was elevated, although temporarily. You were either cool or not. A bike only piqued their curiosity for a couple of moments.
Until I got used to the hand brakes, I wore out the toes of my converse low top sneakers by dragging them on the ground trying to slow me down. Mom wasn't happy about that!
One time Monica Girard wanted to switch bikes for a ride. She had foot brakes on her bike. We rode down the huge hill of our street (from her house to mine) on each other's bike going faster and faster, neither of us remembering how to brake. I remember hearing Monica's voice behind me yelling, "How do I stop?" I remember my feet not being able to stay on the fast moving pedals. Reaching the bottom of the hill at speeds 10 year old girls should not be traveling at, we met our stop in the form of trash cans in front of the same VFW that gifted me the bike. Trash cans, bikes and girls went flying around. I don't remember now what my injuries were. I'm sure there was a bruise and a couple of scrapes!
In my adult life, I cannot ride a bike. I've tried. I really tried when I was first married. I couldn't keep my balance. Falling as an adult was much more painful then the memory of falling as a child.
Yeah, yeah, nice story, Sandy, what's your point?
Don't rush me.
I'm getting there.
I have never won anything as special since. I am now 43 years old. 33 years has passed. Oh, sure, I've won the occasional $5 scratch ticket. But I do not buy them. I am too cheap. Er. Frugal. No, cheap was right. I don't like the gamble aspect of them. I have won a pool at work once. But I played it more for Andy than myself. But I have not won anything so exciting since then.
Until now!
I won this.

Picture lifted from Harlot's blog
From Stephanie's Doctors without borders fundraiser. It is the most lovely hand spun yarn from Sandi! (Hi Sandi!) I do not have it in my hands yet, but they long to cop a feel!
I believe that this winning will make me a bit happier than the last. Certainly if I won a bike today, it would not thrill me.
The color of the yarn, the fact that it is handspun, it comes from a sheep named Bessie, handdyed, hand everything. All facts that bring me happiness. I am so excited! I can barely contain myself.
Do I need to get out more?