We're Winners!

Every day since the start of the Tour de France, Gert and I diligently sit down at the computer and play Trek's Tour Mania Scratch and Win game. I log in and Gert picks her Bobke token to scratch off the three little squares.

We have our hopes and dreams for the prizes. Click on "Scratch & Win" and then "Prizes and Sponsors" to see what we are playing for. I'll be honest, I want the bikes. I don't need to ride with Lance, I have a laptop and I'm actually wearing the t-shirt right now.

Most mornings we are met with defeat. Others we have near successes. "It says Discovery computer! We have two Discovery computers!" The third, of course, always says Powerbar. Worse, some mornings we get two Powerbars and we scream with dread that we'll actually win a Powerbar.

But today was different. When we sat down, Mom said, "I think today is your day guys."

"Mom," Gert cried. "Please don't say that!" She's a superstitious soul.

Gert scratched the first box. It said, "Water Bottle". Gert scratched the second box. It said "Water Bottle". We were both twitchy with excitement over the prospect of winning a $5 water bottle. She scratched the third box . . .

"Water Bottle!"

She leapt into the air an shrieked with delight. Then she started to dance. For the rest of the morning she sang a song that went something like this:

We won a water bottle (shake hips)
Oh yeah a water bottle (shake hips)
We won a water bottle (shake hips)
We are the winners (shake hips twice)
I was the scratcher (shake hips, jazz hands)
We won a water bottle (shake hips)

Because it's all sponsored by Trek, we don't have to wait to receive our prize. We have a letter that states we won a water bottle and we merely have to take it to our local Trek Store to pick up our bottle. Tonight Mommy has knitting so Gert and I are going on an adventure.

"You know," I said, "you get to keep the water bottle for your bike."

"Cool."

"It's just like the ones the racers on Discovery Channel use. George Hincapie even uses them."

"Hincapie! I will use it on my bike rides!" (She and Matilda selected George as their personal Tour favorites during the prologue. Each time I root for Floyd Landis, I get dirty looks.)

And so, she started her day as a winner. To share in her joy she brought blankets and granola bars for all the other kids at Diana's today so they could all enjoy a "rainy day snack".

Me? I'll be at Kinko's feeding the copier full of my good luck.