A little over a month ago, I was receiving text messages from friends and family across the country about my safety. Those close to me were concerned about the possible impact Hurricane Florence could have on South Carolina. During the time of crisis, it was comforting to know that people were thinking of me.

Today, I once again received text messages from friends and family across the country.  Similarly, it was because South Carolina was once again in the news. However, the correspondence wasn’t about my personal welfare. Rather, it was about my possible financial fortune.

I must deliver the disappointing news that I am not the winner of the Mega Millions jackpot, a prize valued at almost TWO BILLION dollars.

We bought a Mega Millions ticket but we aren’t taking home $1.5 billion.

This morning, news broke that the winning ticket was sold in South Carolina. Before it was revealed that the ticket was printed in Simpsonville, a city 230 miles from Myrtle Beach, I politely told my contacts that while we did purchase a single ticket on Saturday night (at Sidney’s urging as I don’t usually play the lotto), we didn’t possess the slip of paper that would dramatically change the life of every person that is part of the Reser/Mathis family tree.

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On my way to the gym this morning, I received the tweet that the Mega Millions winning ticket was sold in South Carolina. I read the linked article and sent a screenshot to Sidney. Before looking at my phone again, I decided to exercise and let myself daydream a bit on what we would do if the unbelievable happened. By the time my workout was finished, and I am 100% serious about this, I was more scared about winning the prize than excited. The reasoning for that needs to be saved for a future blog post.

The text conversation I had with Sidney this morning.

I thank Sidney for giving it to me straight that we didn’t win. It would have been easy to pull my leg a bit. Even though I would have been expecting it, any confirmation from Sid that we had gotten lucky would have raised my hopes – despite the fact that I was feeling more scared than euphoric to win. My belief is that elevating someone’s spirits and then crushing them is the cruelest type of joke out there.

I guess just the simple fact that the winning ticket came from South Carolina did mean we “beat the odds” so to speak. But I don’t need the Mega Millions to tell me that I have good fortune. I have a beautiful wife and a precious daughter and by my account that already makes me the luckiest guy around. Don’t Blink.