Nadia Wins A Vacuum!

Nadia called me a while ago and said, “Guess what?”

I responded, “Alright….um….let’s see….uh….Eric Clapton called and he wants me to play with him at his next Crossroads Guitar Festival?”

So, she hung up.  Sometimes my wise guy nonsense gets really irritating.  But she quickly called back and said, “Guess what?” again.

This time, being mature and intelligent—and not wanting to push my luck—I asked, “What?”

She said, “I just got a call from our veterinarian’s office and they told me that as one of their clients, I was automatically registered in a contest.  And they were calling to inform me that I won that contest!”

“Wow!  You won?!?  You ACTUALLY won?!?  What did you win?” I asked.

She said, “A Dyson vacuum cleaner.  They are really expensive and highly rated vacuums….at least that’s what they say on their commercials…where they pay money to record a message in which they can say whatever they want.”

“That’s a pretty nice prize,” I said. 

(I was going to say, “That gift sucks!”  Get it?  Vacuums work by suctioning…they, literally, suck.  But, again, I didn’t want to push my luck.  And, when a joke requires an explanation, that’s often a sign that it’s not too funny.  Oops, I’m explaining, aren’t I?)

She said, “I’m so excited, I’ve never won anything before!”

“When will you get the vacuum?” I asked.

“They have to do a check to make sure that I don’t work for any of the companies involved in the contest.  But once that’s done, they will ship it to me!”

It’s cool because she’s so excited about winning.  Later, when she was in my office talking about it, she was practically dancing with delight.  I love seeing her when she is genuinely thrilled…...like the day she first met me.  (Come on, I can dream, can’t I?)

So, is there a lesson that can be learned from all of this?

Actually, no, I don’t think there’s any lesson at all.  I’m just telling you about it because she’s so happy and because it’s fun to win something.  (Even something that sucks.)

(No explanation forthcoming.)

Oh wait, maybe there is a small lesson:  If—through the incredible connectivity and networking powers of the Internet—if, by some very strange one-in-a-million chance, if this on-line story were to ultimately be read, somehow, some way, by Eric Clapton…..

I’m available.