Twenty-Five Carat Words

Entering contests is fun, challenging—and a hard habit to break

- Stella Muir

I am positively not going to enter any more contests! I made this decision after being addicted to them for nearly 20 years.

It all started harmlessly enough many years ago, when I began reading magazines. In those days, during the Great Depression, the prizes offered were somewhat less than they are now, but to a ten year-old, $25 cash for completing the last line to a jingle extolling the virtues of a brand of toothpaste looked as wonderful as a trip to Paris does now. I mean, think of all the bubble gum I could have bought!

After 15 years of slaving over various entry forms, I finally won twice in one year—not first prize, but we all have to start somewhere. The first time I won, the prize was $5. The day I received a letter stating that I was being sent an exquisite piece of costume jewellery valued at $10, however, I spent the day floating on air.

My children, then aged one and two, couldn’t do a thing wrong that day, but when the prize arrived three weeks later, I was bitterly disappointed. It was a large glamour pin set in rhinestones, and I am the type who goes for imitation “genuine” stuff—meaning something small and simple enough to look real. It did come in handy as a birthday present for my mother though, who had a dress which showed the pin off beautifully.