A Runner-Up

I found out this morning that I'm a runner-up for the "Why I Said Yes" contest. I don't know what my prize is yet. I should just say "Yay!" and be done with it.

But I'll be honest instead. I began feeling entitled to win yesterday. After all, Kim had said I'd win--therefore I should win,right? Also, I'd gotten a phone call the previous night from a number I didn't recognize. I knew the winner would be contacted by phone before the runners-up were contacted. So I thought--hey, maybe I won! I began carrying my phone around with me--something I don't usually do.

Here's why I thought I might win: I write well. I live in Pocatello, which means there are only 52,000 people in my city, and maybe a couple hundred who even knew about the contest. Probably more like twenty people. Therefore, I should win, right?

And the concession: I didn't write for my audience. I knew a jeweler at Molinelli's Jeweler's was going to judge the entries (and then award the winner 1/2 ctw diamond stud earrings), and I didn't talk about my sparkly ring in my essay. I realized this after I submitted my entry--which serves as a good reminder that I shouldn't send off work until I've been able to look at it for at least 24 hours.

This was the first contest I had entered in a whole year, and it would be nice to have had instant gratification. I'm glad I'm a runner-up--but bummed that I'm not the grand-high winner. Hopefully, I'll feel motivated to submit more work in the future.