Not a Bicycle

This Melmac serving platter, which has been in our family for almost fifty years, will grace the Thanksgiving table once again.  Its colors used to be bright and bold, its surface pristine.  I won it when I was a child, but no matter how exciting that might have been, it was certainly not the prize I had hoped for.  Let me explain…

I can remember accompanying my mom to the local Winn-Dixie where the store was having a giveaway — a treasure chest filled with unmarked envelopes containing prizes, one of which was a bicycle.  Shoppers received a key upon entering, and if it opened the chest, an envelope was yours for the choosing.  It happened to be my lucky day, or so I thought.

I was elated when my key opened the lock, and I knew in that moment that the bike was going to be mine.  Imagine my emotions when the envelope that I had so carefully selected revealed the prize you see in the picture.  Totally distraught, I cried for the rest of the shopping trip.  Mom was able to console me somewhat with a bag of Keebler Danish Wedding Cookies. (I still enjoy them to this day.)

I love the tale of the turkey platter (probably because I’m the star) but mostly because it still makes me laugh after all these years.