I know this is very silly, but ever since I was nine years old I’ve wanted a really big check.
I remember watching television, and a person was given a ginormous check. That check was HUGE! It was about four or five feet long and it took two hands to hold. I don’t even remember what it was for at this point- winning a game show? The lottery? A raffle? In any case, I remember watching that person receive that really big check and think, I want one.
“One day I’ll get a really big check,” I vowed.
“Nuh-uh,” said my brothers and my cousins, who were also watching the person hold the really big check on T.V. Their negative views were the result of the fact that they were all jerks (as a nine year-old girl, all boys are jerks regardless of their true nature).
“I will so,” I said defiantly, with more gumption than I felt. How was I going to get a really big check, after all? I freeze up when asked trivia questions, and at nine, the idea of playing the lottery didn’t seem feasible since I would have to be ancient- over 18!- to play.
“How will you get one?” they goaded, as only boys can.
“I’ll get one,” I promised, as they continued to tease and tell me I would never get a really big check. I turned back to the television and to the smiling person with the huge cardboard cut out and vowed that one day, I would be that person.
Unfortunately, as it turns out, there aren’t many opportunities to get really big checks. And so, many (many!) years later, I still had not fulfilled my promise of obtaining said ginormous check.
That being said, I got close. Last year I almost got a really big check. IREM in Orange County, the OC Institute of Real Estate Management, chose Hanaeleh and I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue as their beneficiaries of their annual golf tournament. We were so thankful for their support, and at their banquet, they had a really big check for Hanaeleh! Unfortunately, since I had to work during the event, Jocelyn, our Vice President, and Kathi, our social media coordinator, received the really big check. I was so thrilled to get the regular-sized check, but secretly, I was kind of bummed that I missed being awarded a ginormous check. I told myself, however, that I was being silly, as it was just a cardboard cut out of a check.
A really big check.
This year, IREM offered to have Hanaeleh and I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue as their beneficiaries of their golf tournament again! We are so happy that they offered to think of us again! Just like last year, however, I had to work during the reception, so Kathi went instead. I admit I had forgotten about the really big check until she reported that she had received one- again!- as well as the regular-sized check.
I admit I was jealous. Who gets two really big checks in one lifetime?
When she told me about receiving the really big check, I might have made mention of my childhood dream of getting a really big check, but more because I thought she should know what an honor it was to get that really big check.
This past weekend, however, she surprised me by bringing the really big check to the ranch! How she managed to fit it into her car, I have no idea, but I was finally able to fulfill a childhood dream.
I finally got my really big check!
Again, a huge thank you to the people of IREM OC who have continued to support Hanaeleh, and personally, thank you for helping me finally get a really big check!