Victory.

I had a goal.  A vision.  A NEED to fulfill said goal/vision.  And I had been trying and failing for many years.  Until yesterday.

Part of it was sheer luck - The "call" button was pushed at the exact moment it needed to be pushed.  And the phone was ringing. 

I almost panicked and hung up when I heard the sound of the ring instead of the dirty busy signal with which I am accustomed.  I thought, what if someone answers?  What if I make a total fool of myself?  What if I don't?  WHAT IS HAPPENING?

And then I heard it.  "Hi Ks95!" 

This was it.  I had no time for what if's anymore.  THIS is happening.

"I'm calling for *Smarter than Staci*"  I exclaim!

"And YOU are caller #9!"

Holy shit.

My face turned red and I had to turn off my ass warmer.  I don't remember exactly what happened in the immediate moments after I heard those sweet words - only that they took my information and put me on hold.  And I pulled off on the first exit I found, in the heart of the "east side," and parked in a liquor store parking lot.  I had no fear.

I listen to this show every day and I often wonder "Why aren't people more excited and talkative when they get through and get to play?"  I now understand.  They freeze.  They are focused on the prize.  Or, if they are like me, they are just focused on making sure their phone doesn't drop the call in the middle of the game.

Crisco, one of the members of the show, begins to talk to me.  He tells me that the questions are kind of hard today (which sends me farther in to panic mode), but that they have to be because it's for a good prize (concert tickets).

Here's how the game is played - FIVE questions are asked.  I have to get more correct than the other host, Staci, in order to win the prize.  She's the Cliff Clavin of useless information knowledge, so beating her in trivia proves challenging for many. 

Here were the questions -

What Roman numeral doesn't exist?
What are baby sharks called?
What serial killer began his killing spree in London in 1888?
What president started the secret service?
What is 238,900 miles from the earth?

I was wrong on the baby shark question and the president question (where the hell was my 3-year-old when I needed her?), but got the other three.

Staci was wrong on the shark and president question, too - so she just had to get the last question to tie me....

But she didn't.

And my life was now forever changed.  Many years and countless hours of dialing had finally paid off.  I never gave up.  I fought till the end.  And I won. 

And I get the long yearned for t-shirt.

Victory.



(Side note - I do realize that it's 2014 and I may be the only person I know who still listens to the actual radio on my way home, but apparently there are still hundreds of thousands of other people in the twin cities who listen to this station, because damn it - it's usually impossible to get through.  This is no lie - I have been trying since like 2010.  Amy just reminded me that I used to make her call from her phone at the same time - which makes me an even bigger dork - but I have no shame!)