by Dennis Dalman
While standing near a magnificent waterfront fountain in Charleston, S.C., Jamie Krieger of Sartell was startled when a bird flying above pooped on her, but it just so happened to be a lucky poop because it led to her winning a lottery.
In April, she and her husband, Ryan, visited Charleston for a long weekend getaway because he loves history and she loves mansions – two things Charleston is famous for.
The bird poop landed on Krieger’s shirt, then some of it splashed on one of her hands. Just then she remembered hearing somewhere that being pooped on by a bird is a sign that one’s luck is about to change – for the better. Krieger is not very superstitious, but she decided to check the bird-poop on Google. Yep, it checked out.
Though she has never been much of a gambler, Krieger decided, post bird poop, she’d better go looking for a lottery ticket. But first things first: husband Ryan just had to take a picture of “Jamie with Bird Poop” (ha ha) so he could send the photo to family members.
Then they got into their car and drove and drove some more in search of that elusive winning ticket, as well as seeking out to buy souvenirs for their two children, ages 7 and 4, back home. They stopped at a grocery store. Nope. They went to a Walmart. Nope.
Ryan began to sigh a bit impatiently.
“Can’t we just be done searching for a lottery ticket?” he sighed.
Later, back on the island where they were staying, Isle of Palms, they stopped at its one-and-only gas station. Jamie walked in and, sure enough, she spied lottery tickets for sale. She bought one, plus a scratch-off ticket.
When she opened the ticket, the winning amount was $300. But she looked closer and it said “Three times the amount on the ticket. $900! That was a mighty lucky poop, she figured. She also won $5 on the scratch-off ticket.
Back in the car, she showed Ryan.
“I won the lottery!” she exclaimed.
“Good job,” he said, looking at the ticket. “Three-hundred bucks.”
“Look closer,” she said.
“Three times 300,” said Ryan. “Nine-hundred bucks. Way to go!”
Back home in Sartell, she filled out a form and sent it in the mail with the ticket. Later, she received a check – $841 after taxes were deducted.
The Kriegers had a grand time in Charleston visiting Magnolia Mansion, dining, taking leisurely walks, going for a horse-drawn carriage ride down cobblestone streets and – well – getting pooped on, getting lucky.
Ryan is a work-from-home information technology manager; Jamie is a pharmacist at the St. Cloud Hospital. The lottery win is not a big fortune for them by any means, but – what the heck – who can argue with bird-poop luck?
