My trivia team won last week.
The team took out 49 of a possible 55 points, and added $100 to the team's bank account. It was a jubilant moment.
A jubilant moment, I have to add, which I celebrated from a distance after being texted about the win later that night. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure that it is my win to celebrate. Sure, I'm a member of the team and I do attend whenever I can. The wins however are fairly elusive and despite regularly feeling them "in my waters", the waters seem to be carrying any significant victories further out to sea.
Our usual spot is about fourth, which considering the competition from about 70 teams, is not to be sneezed at. But it does not swell the team's bank account and its possible expenditure on a dinner out for all team members.
Coming fourth however keeps you coming back. Next week may just be that week when you get that extra one or two points that throws you into a winning place. And so the weeks roll by, us clinging to the life raft of hope and educated guesses. I liken it to making a government phone call. After waiting for so long, do you hang up or will they answer in the next few seconds?
My absence from the winning evening speaks volumes as to my team usefulness. Not only did I not contribute anything towards the 49 points, but, had I been there, I may have misdirected and caused a lower score. Recently I was able to stun them all with my knowledge that the little pieces of paper made by a hole puncher are called "chad". Meanwhile other people know about governments and flags and capital cities.
Other people remember stuff. They store knowledge and have sharp memories. Either my filing cabinet is so skillfully stored away it can't be opened, or everything has gone into my favourite filing drawer (aka the brain bin).
I seems the best decisions are made without me, a fact recognised by a former editor who always left me in charge when he left the room. Of course, he only ever did this when there was no one else in the room. I bossed myself around mercilessly until everyone came back. Next time, I must speak severely to myself about learning more than just the meaning of chad.
