Minor Disappointment
Wed., November 16, 09:29 AM
As you know, I’m partial to game shows and quizzes. I’m even pretty good at them. So it’s not so surprising that, when a friend of U.D.’s was going to be on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” I agreed to be one of her Phone-A-Friends.
The lady contacted me directly for the information they’d need – telephone numbers and so forth – and mentioned that she really needed me because someone else had chosen to travel to San Francisco that day. I had to admit that, given the chance to go to San Francisco, I probably would have gone too. So I promised to be there for her.
On the day she was supposed to play, I was called by the people at ABC and given instructions. Among other things, I had to be available at a land line for the four hours I had committed, unless I was notified that she was finished before then. I had to stay at home, of course; it’s no help to have a cell phone in my pocket. No one ever called; evidently things had gotten hectic since one player lasted longer than expected. Except for not being able to go online – because it would tie up my phone – this was not so terrible.
Well, next the lady asked whether I’d be available yesterday. And of course, I agreed again. ABC called and asked me to be available from 12:45. I told Bosslawyer I had to go home, and I planned to be there all afternoon. When I got there, I found a message on my answering machine; my son-in-law was reminding me not to eat a big lunch, because they were picking me up at 3:30 to go to their favorite Mexican restaurant. (With the amusing name of Aunt Chilada’s.) Bummer – I can’t go out at 3:30.
ABC called me once to let me know she was starting, and again to tell me she was held over to a second show, and finally -- about 5 – to let me know she had phoned someone else. And the lady e-mailed me this morning to thank me. Oh, well, as I said, it’s only a minor disappointment. I’m still proud of winning at “Inquizition.” But I did miss my dinner…
