The very first time I ever won something in my life
Today, I am gonna talk about the time where I first won something in my entire life. This is a true story that dates back to my incredibly early childhood years, and this story revolves around a local TV station of mine, a channel anniversary celebration, an elementary school, and... one very specific Bob the Builder DVD.
There was a DVD in question released at the tail end of 2003 called "Bob the Builder: Tool Power!", released on both DVD and VHS on December 30th, 2003 in North America by HIT Entertainment. This specific Bob the Builder home media release contained various episodes from different seasons of the show, and also includes two shorts, one of those being "Muck's Sand Castle", which is the specific short which will be relevant for later. This DVD was just nothing but a compilation of various episodes of the show and two bonus shorts along with it. But, to a child, it was enjoyable and wondrous to watch episodes of the show on your own accord, without having to tune into any cable channel. This specific home media release of Bob the Builder was released when I was only still just 1 year old; I was about 1 year and 8 months old when this was released in North America.
And this DVD? It's also the basis of this very story I am telling.
Our local PBS Kids station, KMOS, held a special event called "Kids Day" that they held on June 19, 2004 that was, in fact, held at an actual elementary school in Camdenton, Missouri, and was also a big celebration of the local channel's 25th anniversary that year (KMOS went into operation in 1979). I was only 2 years old at the time this event took place, my birth year was 2002. I begged and pleaded with my dad to take me over to the elementary school so I could see the event in-person. The commercials for the event were enough to make me want to go. When we arrived at the school for the event on the day it was scheduled to take place, it was decked out in PBS Kids stuff as well as some science stuff and a big stage area that we would be seated in later during the event. I was overjoyed with all of the merchandise and whatnot scattered around.
When we were seated in the stage area, they started to speak to the audience and families at the event about what I vaguely remember to be the future of KMOS for the next 25 years if my memory of that day serves me right. It was long and wordy, from what I remember. But what I do remember is who came out first on the stage - Clifford the Big Red Dog. Of course, a person in a Clifford suit, but Clifford nonetheless. He greeted the attendees and he spotted me in the crowd and I came up to him. I was one of the first people to have a meet and greet with him at that event. When I went up to Clifford I just gave him a big hug and then I was able to take a photo with him. That photo is still out there somewhere and I honestly am ashamed of myself for not asking my dad to get a camcorder so we could record our experience. But, to be fair, I was 2 at the time, so it slipped my mind. The photo, however, is in limbo. I still don't know if we still have it or not. But, I do remember taking that photo. A clear memory.
Anyways, so, here's where the DVD comes into play. Every person or family seated would be given a number. They put those numbers into a hat, and what ever number was randomly picked, the person or family got to pick one thing out of the prize box that was right next to the hat where all of the numbers were put into and shuffled inside of. Basically, this was a raffle that everyone in attendance was able to be a part of. And my eyes instantly laid on something - a very specific DVD of a very specific show I liked: "Bob the Builder: Tool Power!", as I was a huge (and I mean, HUGE) fan of Bob the Builder at the time. This DVD had not even been out for maybe a few months up to that point - the DVD was released in North America on December 30th of 2003. So, it was about maybe 4 - 6 months after the DVD's release. I knew that as soon as I had my turn that would be the very thing I grab, without any hesitation. I loved the show as a kid and I was hoping I would be the one to take this DVD home and enjoy it for as long as I could hold onto it. Of course, there were a lot of prizes, but the DVD was what I wanted the most. And as a huge Bob the Builder fan at the time, it would be the one thing that I just hoped didn't get taken.
So, when the raffle began, I kept looking at that DVD while numbers were being drawn and families were picking out one item from the prize box to take with them. I got really anxious. I wanted that DVD so badly. And I knew I would be absolutely devastated if someone else beat me to the punch. This is the one thing I instantly laid my eyes on. I just waited for my turn patiently abiet anxiously, hoping no one would take the DVD. And every time a family walked away from the prize box after selecting one, that DVD was still in the prize pool. I just hoped, begged, and pleaded that I would get the DVD and I would get to keep it forever. Well, lo' and behold, boom - my family's number is drawn. And guess what? That DVD was still in the box when our number was picked. Without any second question, I walked up to the prize box, and just calmly took the DVD out of the prize box, and walked back to my seat with my family. "Wow, he just instantly knew what he wanted right there!". Dang right I did. I grabbed that DVD without hesitation.
The DVD was mine. I was so relieved, thrilled, and happy. As soon as we got back to our house, I knew what I was going to do - watch the DVD I just won. Oh man, if you were there, you should have seen the look on my face as we began to walk out of the venue. I was so happy. We did end up stopping by some science thing on our way out, and at the entrance to the school, a man came up to me, and... boom. I had my arm stamped with the KMOS logo. It was the OG logo, too, from the early 2000s. That stamp faded out over time and I am kinda sad that the stamp didn't last. It was truly one last teeny tiny surprise before we made our journey back home, and I am glad I had my arm stamped with it. It honestly would've been funny to see it still on my arm after 20 or so years.
And, that was our day. We head back home and I immediately put my Bob the Builder DVD, this one, into my DVD player. Pure bliss. I remember watching the "Muck's Sand Castle" short over and over again on that DVD. In fact, that very specific short is the one thing that I watched the absolute most on that DVD compared to any of the episodes. In fact, I don't even remember if I actually watched any of the main episodes on that disc; it might have just been exclusively the short. I can't even remember how many times I watched that short in particular. Was it 10, 20? I don't know, I just completely lost count. And, remember how I said "Muck's Sand Castle" would be relevant for later? This is why. But however, I sadly do not know what happened to that DVD, and I know for a fact we don't own it anymore, but I remember it was the first time I ever won anything. I got the thing I wanted the most and I was so happy in the end. That DVD is very special to me because of these specific chain of events. It was my first true experience of winning practically anything in my entire life, even at such a VERY young age.
Winning giveaways for games was great and all, but this was my first REAL 'win' because it was the one prize I was wanting the most. Felt so good and it made me feel like the happiest kid on Earth that day.