And the Winner Is...

Mark shows off his winnings: a fifty-dollar bill!

(And the cookies he bought at the bake sale.)

April 13, 2019

I can't believe he actually won! Today we attended the annual spring concert of the White Mountain Symphony Orchestra, with whom our daughter Sarah performs on violin. The symphony orchestra puts on five or six concerts each year, usually accompanied by a bake sale and a raffle in the lobby, to raise funds for their all-volunteer organization. And, at every concert, Mark buys two tickets for $1 apiece to enter the raffle for the most coveted prize: fifty dollars in cash!

I always teased Mark that he'd end up paying more than the fifty dollar prize into the raffle before he'd ever actually win it, if he ever did. But he persisted. 

During intermission tonight, as always, the emcee and his young assistants drew the tickets for each raffled item, saving the fifty-dollar prize for last. Then the emcee teased, "The last three numbers on the winning ticket are...4...does anybody have the four?" Hands went up all over the auditorium, including Mark's. I glanced at the tickets in his hand. His last three numbers read "426" and "427." The emcee went on: "The next number is 2...does anyone have 4-2?" Fewer hands popped up. I still didn't get too excited. Mark's final "6" and "7" were still up against eight other people with final 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and final 8 or 9, after all. But then, at last, "The final three numbers are 4...2...6!"

Both of Mark's arms flew up in the air as he let out a whoop. People all around us applauded. I guess that, sometimes, the cockeyed optimists really do win! Oh, yes...I was wrong. His total investment before winning was only about ten or twelve dollars.

The concert program and my ticket.

After the concert, Mark used his newfound wealth to treat Sarah, Chris, and me to dinner at Show Low Cafe. We enjoyed their generous salad bar (Sarah had a bun-less cheeseburger) and a nice hour of visiting before heading home for the evening. Sarah and Chris covered the tip for our friendly, helpful waitress, while Mark surrendered his fifty-dollar bill to pay for dinner. He got a big kick out of it when the waitress handed him his change: $2.45. 

"Look," he said, holding the two greenbacks high. "I got my two dollars back!"

Sarah preps for the first number while waiting for the concertmaster.

This was a fun concert, even aside from Mark's big win. The theme was "Music Is in Our Nature" and featured musical numbers inspired by flora, fauna, and even the weather. Two soloists were featured. The first was a high school flutist who'd won an audition contest. The second was a college student who was an absolute virtuoso on the harp, who is also scheduled to perform at Carnegie Hall soon. You can see a clip of her remarkable performance on my Facebook page.

Sarah chats with another violinist while still waiting for the concert to begin.

For us, of course, the highlight of the concerts is watching our Sarah perform. Although she has no interest in being the "star of the show," she is nonetheless completely dedicated to her music and loves being a part of the orchestra. I love that it's important to her to share her gifts with the community.

The concert begins, with Maestro Ted Vives on the stand.

Many orchestra members are people we've known throughout our 29 years here.

We're so proud of our sweet, talented, musical Sarah!

Orchestra members stand to be recognized with a standing ovation

after performing the final number of the evening.