Let the parties begin: if you are a teacher in NJ, there are union Christmas parties, staff and faculty Christmas parties, university- or college-wide parties, usually in the new buildings and hosted by the president, and departmental Christmas parties.
So the first party was this afternoon. It was a union Christmas party held at a hotel conference center. I arrived late, due to the fact that I am ill with a bad cold.
At these parties, there are door prizes. The drawings take place at the end of the party. Since I was late, one of my union colleagues brought a small gift and a ticket to my place at the lunch.
As soon as there was a break in the speakers, I called to my colleague. who had returned to his spot at the next table. I said, "There's a matching ticket for this, right? And the drawing is in a little while?" My colleague nodded yes. I announced to everyone, "It's very important that I understand this because you will see that I will be the winner!!"
Now mind you, these prizes are no big deal. They are small boxes of chocolates, mugs, fancy paper clips in containers, etc. My fellow teachers were, of course, very envious of me!
I would be the one with the fancy paper clips on
my papers.
Soon it came time for the drawing and the union president turned a little hopper with all the tickets in it. Round and round they tumbled, as we saw the little red tickets mix in the wire basket. He pulled one out and read the numbers. They were mine! I jumped up and said, "That's me!" Soon I was the owner of a gold box of Godiva chocolates with jingle bells on the top.
My fellow teachers didn't get too excited about my fabulous win. One casually remarked, "I think that's all done with magnetics, right?" What could I do but smile.
Cher