Sometime in December, my friend – Shu – sent me a call for entries to a competition in the local newspaper to win a lesson with Rafael Nadal and tickets to the semi-finals of the Capitala Tennis Championship happening at the end of the year. Thinking that it never hurts to enter a contest, I SMS’d in my answers to the contest question and promptly forgot about it.
One afternoon about a week later, I was exhausted and had just gotten home from work with only one thought – a nap. My cell phone rang and a woman identified herself. Then, in proper UAE fashion asked me to identify myself. As is my general response when someone calls me, then asks who’ve they’ve called I responded with “You called me, what do you want?” She somewhat curtly explained that I had entered a contest and that she was calling to inform me I had won, but that she needed to confirm who I was. Now, why she couldn’t have said that from the beginning is beyond me, but I somewhat recalled that I had entered this contest and confirmed I was indeed said person.
She congratulated me and started giving me details. All I could think about was taking a nap and that I had to administer an exam on the day of the lesson. So, after asking if I could give it to someone else and confirming I would contact her later, I hung up and immediately fell fast asleep.
Upon waking from my slumber, I awoke with the realization that I had WON a lesson with Rafael Nadal and tickets to see him and Roger Federer play! What was wrong with me??!! Still, I knew that I couldn’t go to the lesson because it happened to be a day of a major exam at work and having already missed a great deal of work, I didn’t see it going over well to ask for the day off…. I knew I couldn’t call in sick because there was a chance that my picture could show up in the newspaper given it was with Nadal and all. So…alas….
Since Craig was in town (an update on that situation later….), I thought he would enjoy the opportunity to have the lesson and as we had tickets for the first matches the day before, it would be cool to see the semis the next day for free. However, after Craig thought about it, he decided that our friend, Jen, would enjoy it more given she plays tennis more and was so excited at the idea. So, both of them went while I went to work. Of course, colleagues who later found out about my winnings lamented that I totally should have taken the day off anyway and gone. Perhaps true, but I’m honestly not as big of a fan and I was happy to let others enjoy the opportunity.
We enjoyed the matches on both days and I got to see the last sunset in Abu Dhabi of 2009 from the stadium. So, it was a good time and though I don’t think I’ll be winning anything again for another 20 years or so (the last time I won anything was my 10-speed bike when I was like 12….), I’m still putting my name in for things. So, you just never know. I mean, you can’t win the lottery if you never buy a ticket, right? Of course, I only enter things that are free – no money exchanges involved, thank you!
Here are some photos & videos –
Nadal Nadal Federer Federer
Federer Last sunset of 2009
More to come…
-T
