This is a blog of our family stories. A few, with the help of our cousin, Ruth, will be about our great grandparents who immigrated here from Sweden. Many will be from our mother, Maxine, who was a wonderful story teller. The rest will be of our own family and friends. We hope others will share their own family stories.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Something Fishy? A True Story!
Cats fed, breakfast finished, and tickets to the Happy Together Concert have been purchased. Those of you non-baby boomers may not appreciate the joy my husband and I have singing along with Mark Lindsey from Paul Revere and the Raiders, or Flo and Eddie from the Turtles...and a few other 1960s bands at these concerts. I won't even try to explain because my topic this morning is about being lucky. I have to admit, a got this idea from Cathy...after reading her post from yesterday about being unlucky...but actually winning something. Cathy, I hope you don't mind that I will piggyback your idea.I have always considered myself a lucky person...even when I was young I felt that. But the strangest 'luck' I had can not be explained. It has to do with my license plates. Way back in 2000 when I purchased my lime green Beetle I decided to get license tags to support the Scenic Rivers. The blue heron flying across the top of the plate looked pretty and would look good on the back of my Beetle. My Uncle Frank was visiting when the plates arrived. Imagine my dismay when I ripped open the thick envelope and locked eyes with a fish. A FISH! No blue heron! I don't eat fish...I don't go fishing...and I did not want a fish on my license plate. Uncle Frank just sat there with a grin on his face while my mother (who lived with me) hoped that my ranting would subside. How can I drive around with a fish on my tags!About five minutes into my rage I noticed that the fish looked exactly like the fish engraved on my fathers grave stone. (He liked to fish...poor guy, neither of his daughters liked to fish...hmmm, but maybe it was his way of escaping to a quiet place.) Yes, mother agreed that the fish did look the same. Hmmm...that fish did not look all that bad...made me feel like my father was driving with me. Then I checked the rest of the plate. The numbers were 517....my father's birthday. I hugged the plates and knew I would never return these plates...not ever...and oh how childish I had been about that lovely fish. "Now you have to play those numbers on the lottery." Uncle Frank said to me. So, I did. I knew that people played three numbers, but I had never done that...and felt a bit awkward when buying them. I can't remember how I bought them...being asked if I wanted them 'boxed'...and had no clue what that was. I just know I played the numbers 517. That night we watched the lottery drawing...the numbers were...1...7...5. Wow!! Not the right order, but the same numbers. Uncle Frank told me that even thought the numbers were out of order, I probably won something. He was right! I won $80! The fish is still traveling with me...attached to the back of its third car...and many times when approaching the car, I swear, it winks at me.
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Now that's a great story of happenstance. I don't think it was luck, it was just meant to be.
ReplyDeletePS Mark Lindsay was my FAVORITE Raider, pitter-patter goes my heart. :-)
Jackie, I love this fishy story and your connection to the license plates. My dad loved road trips. Anytime I'm traveling solo, I like to think he rides shotgun with me!
ReplyDeleteGreat story, it's amazing when the stars align like that!
ReplyDeleteAnd how could you return..... EXCEL!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love it when the letters tell a story. How totally incredible that your numbers matched. That's a memorable fish story. Thanks.
How wonderful that you played and won!
ReplyDeleteGreat story, Jackie.
Jackie,
ReplyDeleteI love your blog for family stories and this one is wonderful, rich... LUCKY, for sure!
I love your luckiness! This is such a great story! In recent years I have begun feeling like I am pretty lucky...maybe I should go buy a lotto ticket, too! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat story! Sometimes it just feels like the planets and stars align for something good. I'm glad you shared a little bit 'o luck with us today.
ReplyDeleteI am loving your trove of treasures! I also enjoy road trips with My Ol' Man and love the image of your dad riding shotgun with you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing!
Trish
Love, love, love that the fish plates showed up and your numbers were lucky! I love how the universe takes care of us. Feeling the love of your family turning up in unexpected ways. Thanks for commenting on my Frank story and directing me to your stories. :)
ReplyDeleteJackie,
ReplyDeleteThis is hilarious! I am picturing that sweet little Beetle and you when you found the tags weren't what you had hoped. I'm having a hard time picturing you in a rant, but I'm going to take your word for it. How funny that it matches the picture on your dad's stone. This was a delightful tale. Here are a few of my favorite lines:
I have always considered myself a lucky person...even when I was young I felt that. (Yes, I'm a little jealous.)
Imagine my dismay when I ripped open the thick envelope and locked eyes with a fish. A FISH! No blue heron!
I hugged the plates and knew I would never return these plates...not ever...and oh how childish I had been about that lovely fish.
You have me thinking that luck may be something we have to slow down enough to notice.
Cathy