The "Spinning The Wheel" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Tuned into one of my favorite TV shows, "Wheel of Fortune."  There on the right side of the contestants row stood Allison.  Knew she was going to be on the show, since last week an article about her competing on the show was in the local newspaper.  It was back in 2013 that Allison's dad Bill was a contestant during "Dad's Week"winning the game and a total of cash and prizes which totaled $47,102.   Allison has been a fan of the show for years and was there to cheer her dad to victory.  Finally, this past June she attended an audition in the "Wheelmobile" and received notice in that she would be on the show.  

This scene, taken from my TV screen, shows Allison talking
with Pat Sajak after winning the first round.  Other contestants
were Bernadette on the left and Prophet in the center.

Her segment was taped in September and she had to keep the results secret until it appeared on the air tonight.  Pretty neat to see a local contestant on a national TV game show.  It's been a few years since a high school student of mine, Brad Rutter, became the biggest money winner of all time on a TV game show when he won game after game on Jeopardy.  Well, tonight Allison led off by winning the first "Toss-Up Round."  

Here Pat congratulates Allison after she won the "Prize
Round" and won not only $700, but a trip to Mexico.

She did well, winning a trip to Mexico in the "Prize Round" and was leading until Pat Sajak spun the wheel in the "Final Round" and another contestant, Prophet, won.  She ended up winning $10,650 in cash and her trip to Mexico.  Allison said in her newspaper interview that she was surprised how small the stage is and how heavy the wheel is.  Pat Sajak wrote all the contestants a letter and Vanna White, who lights up the letters, visited with them before the show began.  Her entire experience was fantastic and she's hoping a third generation of her family can one day be on the show.  They better hurry since the host and hostess aren't getting any younger.  A few years ago the "Wheelmobile" was parked in the K-Mart parking lot near my home and I was tempted to stop in and see what was going on.  Next time I will.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.