Share an award you got or something that made you feel proud

My sister and I entered a coloring contest when we were on vacation one summer. Now, we have always been competitive. This was no exception. I never could out-run Miss Kayla but I knew her 4 years of coloring experience had NOTHING on my SIX.

The picture was a bear in this weird patriotic uniform. I was inspired by its potential and brought the bear to life by gently and specifically selecting the colors from my palette. You know – the ones that make sense when you are coloring a patriotic bear…red, white, and blue.

My sister (now the much more conservative of the two) took a more liberal approach. She did not utilize the colors that inspired her. She used them all… purple, brown, orange, yellow…. They were all there…. She even used that crayon that was called “flesh.” You know the one – it is now apricot or something… I’m dating myself…. Don’t act like you don’t remember it….

The crayon named “flesh” had no place in that box just as much as my sister’s cluster bomb of a picture had no place as an entrant.

But it was accepted. My parents entered Kayla’s hot mess along with my masterpiece.

I was plotting ways to console Kayla for her loss while the panel of judges made their decision. The deliberation lasted 24 hours. This was enough time for me to prepare an acceptance speech as well as perfect the “wave” I would no doubt have to give to my followers and fans after my work was made public.

My parents received a call. It was the decision makers. And the winner of the WHOLE CONTEST out of ALL THE KIDS in the WHOLE RESTAURANT was MISS KAYLA “PURPLE IS PATRIOTIC” ALEXANDER.

I WAS TICKED.

There HAD to have been a mistake! Did they not understand the extra effort that I put into to outline the drawing?! I was utterly disgusted. Four year old Kayla was elated.

My parents have a classic picture of the two of us after the final decision. I’m pouting and Kayla is happily holding her puke picture in one hand and her blue ribbon in the other.

To this day I am still wondering about the obvious conspiracy with the Patriotic Bear Coloring Contest.