eight

the number of the mega ball. the name of my new puppy. the symbol for infinity.

sure, you think. skeptic eye-rolling. sure it's the number of the mega ball.

but why not, i offer. why not? someone will win. someone will get the numbers they either carefully bubbled on the scantron ticket form, or casually rolled the dice on a quick pick for. someone will find their life forever changed when the last numbered ball pops into the cage tonight.

and i have no reason to think it won't be me.

lucky is a way of life for me. good fortune comes my way.

just yesterday on the way to day camp, the boys and i heard an advertisement for a scratch off lottery game. lucky 7's. apparently you can win $777,777 and luke wanted to know if that was more than a million. after a quick math lesson, i was asked if i ever had bought a lucky 7 ticket. i had not. in fact, i think the only time i remember buying scratch off lottery tickets at all was to put in christmas stockings.

but then, on my lunch hour, i was at a gas station filling up and remembered that conversation. i was a little discouraged and thought i need a sign. i had one dollar in my purse, so i ran in to the convenience store with it in hand and earnestly purchased a lucky 7 ticket.

'can i get one of the 7's tickets?'
'what number?'
'umm, the one with the 7's?'
'what number game do you want?', pointing at the 24 scratch-off games behind the security glass. each was numbered for 'easy' purchase.
'umm, #4'

i took it back to the gas pump and flipped it over for the directions. hmm, no directions. i did see the odds on the back though and quickly flipped it over again. assuming it was safe to scratch all the boxes (no warning to the contrary), i scratched.

and on the second row, it came up all 7's.

i won $2. and i smiled and laughed out loud, by the still-filling gas pump. i got my sign. i cashed the ticket in and smiled all the way back to the office.

lucky is a way of life for me. good fortune comes my way.

d: lucky to infinity.
b: i won $2!
g: signs, when there are no directions