SPOILER ALERT: I DID NOT WIN THE PUBLISHER’S CLEARING HOUSE SWEEPSTAKES!
Dear Publisher’s Clearing House,
I am not naive. I didn't believe it for a minute. I did not fall for your teasing when the first three letters arrived.
I have now received 1,708 letters, 2,302 “likes” on Facebook and 441,780 emails stating: “I may be a $10 million winner.”
You hounded me, sending me secret special numbers that no one else had (I felt so superior), stating that no purchase was necessary, although those little star windows where my magazine order showed through, obviously was to warn me that if nothing showed, the envelope was spat upon, burned and flushed down the toilet. Whew, that was a long sentence.
I haven't budged except to walk two feet to my mailbox. It is not as if I went out to by a lottery ticket. I was not the aggressor this time. You courted me.
Listen to me. You are not dealing with a kid. I am cynical, been-around-the-block Jan. …But even the most wary among us, would start fantasizing.
By the 19th letter, I was seduced. I practiced my twang for my appearances on TV knowing you would definitely ring my bell. I have practiced jumping up and down and saying real slowly, “I-cain’t-bu leeve-ah-wun!”
Let me reiterate; I didn't contact you. You contacted me. Even though I was originally skeptical, after a while, I became a believer. I trusted you. This is the longest foreplay in the history of life (and while the fantasy is pleasurable) there’s still no satisfying conclusion.
So yes, I started returning your correspondence. Just to guarantee that you'd look at my particular envelope, I ordered a magazine or two…and then five and then 27. After I ordered every magazine every printed in the U.S. (and a couple from third world countries) I started on the specialty supplements: “DECORATING WITH EGGBOXES,” “WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM PELICANS,” “MY FRIEND, MY FUNGUS.”
True, I could be fun at cocktail parties with this information, but I cannot leave the premises, I must to be here when the money arrives. This has caused life-altering changes for our whole country and to me, personally.
- I haven't left my home to be with my lover. He is very tense and is yelling at all his employees, who then go home and yell at their families who scream at the service people and thus wars start. How do you feel about that, Dave at PCH!
- My children feel neglected because I haven't called to nag them. You know you simply cannot leave nagging to strangers.
- My postman (May he rest in peace) threw himself in front of his Jeep because I called him a few times in the middle of the night asking, “Is it here yet?”
- Stores are totally out of wheelbarrows since I bought their complete supply to carry my winnings to bank.
- The banks are going under since they were depending upon my deposit to buy property to give real estate a boost. Did we cause the current economic slowdown?
The very most horrific part of all was the people counting on me whose lives were put on hold because of my vows.
All my friends and family were going to be financially free forever since I was going to give them all a bundle. I was donating most of the loot to the Cancer Association, Brain Tumor Association and Nordstrom’s on sale day.
Okay, I am no angel. I was going to buy stuff for myself: some Armani suits, a few Donna Karan’s and a Mac, the computer, not that guy Mac — since that would be illegal. I was going to trade my l5 year old sports car for a newer one. See, I had daydreams too.
I thought I was so realistic and beyond those types of reveries but I guess the truth is: I am easy. 1,708 promises and
I am ready to submit. Hear that fellas!
Enough is enough. I want my money now.
