There was a raffle last week to raise money for scholarships at my alma mater. I donated a quilt made in red and white, which are the school colors. I am still curious who got it. It would be fun to see their joy. Last year my friend won a drone, which has been a hoot to fly with her nephew. 

The biggest prize though was a thousand bucks worth of travel vouchers. There are a few pilots in town who maybe pulled some strings. The person whose name was drawn was pretty excited, since her daughter lives in the dorm here and her family is from the west coast. That voucher will enable her child to come home for Christmas, or her to come visit here when she is in a play or performance. Sounds like a sweet deal. 

Then I realized. Many of the people I love are within driving distance. Some live under the same roof. What if I gave myself the grand prize of showing up for them, and calling it special? It is too easily overlooked, as if it is not the boon that it really is. Here they are, close enough to hug. To listen to. To sit beside. Yet it can become lost as ordinary.

Maybe I will write my name on a bunch of tickets and draw one every week. Just to remind myself that I have already won.