The Watering Hole Blog

Prime Rib on Head

Keep Your Eye on the Prize (and the Prime Rib on Your Head)

 

Maryanne at Fanny Bay Inn, BC

“I never lose. I either win or learn.”

– Nelson Mandela

Oh what a night…

If there was ever any concern about turning 50 being the start of a downward slide into old age, this past weekend dispelled that fear. In fact, it would appear I may be sliding in the other direction 🙂

My little brother, Carleton, and his wife, Valina, spent the weekend with me and Sadie in our beautiful Qualicum Bay rental cottage, north of Parksville on Vancouver Island. I am staying in these different places ostensibly to get a feel for various communities in which I may one day set down roots. In reality, I’m having a ball staying in funky homes, exploring the surroundings and fraternizing with visitors and locals alike.

Case in point was Sunday night.

It started out in style with a ride in Carleton & Valina’s convertible mustang…mature big sister (that’s me) in the back, gleefully snapping selfies while baby brother/designated driver adhered to the speed limit under the watchful eye of his co-pilot/wife.

Carleton, Valina & MA, Fanny Bay Inn

Dinner was at the Fanny Bay Inn Pub where there was live music AND a meat-draw (they don’t have those in Sidney)!

“Valina,” I said, as we took our seats, “I am going to WIN that prime rib!”

So when the guy from the Lions Club came around selling tickets, I bought nine of them for $5.

Sure enough, twenty minutes (and a beer or two) later, they did the draw and one of my ticket numbers was called. You’d think I’d have won the lottery. I leapt up from our picnic table with a squeal then screamed, “I WON! I WON!”

As I was running (in strappy wedges) up to the front to collect my prize, some guy in the crowd yelled, “Put it on your head! That’s the tradition!”

So I threw my arms around the fellah who sold me the ticket then grabbed my prime rib, hoisted it in the air and placed it on my head. I turned around to face the crowd and there’s little brother, proudly snapping photos of his sister’s big moment. It was priceless.

The cheeky photo-bomber in the photo at the top is the Lions guy who sold me the ticket.

And the moral to the story is, perhaps, this: 

If you want to a win a prime rib, you have to buy a ticket (or 9). If you want to win at life, you have to get in the game. Keep your eye on the prize, show up each and every day and do the work and eventually, things fall into place and/or you win a slab of beef.

Speaking of keeping your eye on the prize, here’s your friendly neighbourhood ball-obsessed retriever in action at the local swimming hole:

Sadie at Rosewall Creek, BC

Have a great week and we shall do the same! I suspect a scrumptious prime rib dinner is in our future 🙂

Maryanne Pope is the author of A Widow’s Awakening, the playwright of Saviour and the screenwriter of God’s Country. Maryanne is CEO of Pink Gazelle Productions and Chair of the John Petropoulos Memorial Fund. If you would like to receive her regular weekly blog, please sign up here. As a thank you, you’ll receive a short but saucy e-book entitled, Dive into this Chicago Deep Dish – Ten Bite-Sized Steps for a Yummier Slice of Life. 

 

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2 thoughts on “Prime Rib on Head”

  1. Hahah “put it on your head” …brilliant! Was it really a tradition or where they having fun? That’s so funny. Sounds like a great night.

    Elliot 🙂

  2. No – I think that really is what they do! Although…I will have to go again on a Sunday night to that particular pub and check to make sure!!
    MA

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