B-I-N-G-O!!

To start at the beginning, (seems like a good place) the community my mom and I moved to in 2022 (and the one I moved back to this last year) has bingo twice a week. This is a volunteer position where you can sell cards, raffle tickets, and more. We had never played in a bingo hall before moving here, so we were excited to start playing. We enjoyed it and eventually got to know the lady who ran bingo prior. She was moving away and suggested my mom (and me) as a replacement. Feeling that was too big of step our second year in, volunteering was how we wanted to get our feet wet.

But before you knew it, we were running bingo. People would literally come up to us saying, "So y'all are running bingo?" to which we'd reply, "No just volunteering." But it became evident that we were running this thing. We got trained on everything, how the money works, ball machine, how to sell, the games, and set up. This was nerve wracking for both of us, as she was the new boss of it and I was going to be a caller.

Our first bingo night (on our own) rolls around, and we are so nervous! Now, the ball machine in this hall is old fashioned with a giant board hung on the wall accompanying it. I was super scared to get up in front of everyone, with their wins or losses in my hands. We have some games that are two parts where I messed up BIG TIME. We finished the first part of our first game with one winner, going into the second part of the game, I accidentally pulled the balls. Meaning whoever would've one the second half of that game didn't as well as having to remember which balls had already been called. I was MORTIFIED but everyone could tell how sorry I was and went easy on me. (Thank goodness.) I eventually found my groove with calling; found I was actually good at it and loved it!

It's about 3 years later, my mom still runs bingo. My boyfriend and I both volunteer, I haven't called in a while but am happy to step in if needed. All the people that come, feel like family and are there to have a good time. I'm definitely not the luckiest at winning but the atmosphere (and hope) keeps me playing. Until next time. Bye!

There has been a little drama in this bingo hall. Let me know if you want to read those stories!