A Carroll County woman has no idea what caused her to spend $20 on Maryland Lottery tickets, but she certainly felt “Something,” and she is certain the action will set up her family for a happier holiday season than she expected.
Among the tickets she purchased was a $5 Festive Fortune scratch-off game that ended up being worth $50,000.
“It was a visit to the grocery store that I make every week,” the Westminster resident said Oct. 23 when she claimed her prize at Lottery headquarters. What she doesn’t do every week, though, is purchase lottery tickets.
“I get one every once in a while, so I’m in no way a regular player,” she elaborated.
This is where that “Something” makes an appearance.
“I was finishing up when something, maybe a voice, I don’t know, just something told me to spend $20 on lottery tickets. It was such a strong feeling, but I’ve never spent that much on tickets,” she said of her inspiration.
At the Lottery vending machine at the Weis store at 630 Baltimore Boulevard in Westminster, she selected four $5 scratch-offs after a failed attempt to talk herself out of it. The store receives a $500 bonus.
Later at home she sat down with the tickets, scratching the Festive Fortune ticket first.
“My hands started shaking when I saw the matching numbers. My kids got worried, asking me what was wrong.” A day later, the winning mom still hadn’t played her other three games. Who knows? Maybe “Something” will bring her back to lottery headquarters in the near future.
The $5 Festive Fortune game is new on retailers’ shelves, having debuted earlier this month. The $50,000 top prize found at Weiss Market in Westminster is the game’s first to be discovered. Seven more remain in circulation, as well as 12 prizes at the second tier $1,000 level.
The Westminster winner plans to use her windfall to make this Christmas a very special one for her kids.
