It was simultaneously the best and the worst week of my life. And as enticing as it would be to redo some of the worst parts of that week, I probably wouldn’t be writing this article if things had gone differently. As it turned out, the series of unfortunate events that led up to, and overlapped Conference, would leave me the most fortunate piercer in the industry.

But first, a fun little flashback to my first Conference in 2015. I was lucky enough to be selected as an Al D scholar and recall watching as Ryan Ouellette won the Anatometal top prize in the raffle that year. My head spun as Tod and Barry offered up four more top prizes. With odds like that, I thought, I could really win. I left the Banquet that night inspired to try to make it happen.

For the next 2 years I saved. Every extra penny I came across got set aside with the intention of making it to Conference in 2017. Conference was to double as my family’s vacation. As Conference neared, fate intervened throwing a wrench in our plans. Just 4 days before the family was set to head to Vegas, I ended up needing emergency dental work. The dentist’s bill left us faced with a decision to make: does my family still come with me, or do I use the family’s saved travel money on the raffle? We decided on the latter as it would be much more life-changing if we could pull off a win.

I arrived at Conference and I was in a good deal of pain. I’ve dealt with tooth pain for years though, so I kept telling myself that it’s only a couple of days. I repeated a familiar mantra to myself over and over: “It will all be worth it when I win Anatometal.” By Wednesday, my wife and I, nervous that I may not win by going ‘all-in’ on Thursday’s raffle, called an audible. We decided I should split the tickets up between Wednesday’s and Thursday’s raffles. Again, fate had a different plan. By midday Wednesday I was in excruciating pain and honestly considered going home. Brian Moeller knew I was in a bad way and got Betsy Reynolds to convince me to see a dentist immediately. Quite reluctantly, I got into an Uber and went to the dentist in Vegas. “Oh, great, the dentist. Again. This time, in Vegas!” This was not my plan. I felt myself unraveling. I repeat the mantra: “This will all be worth it when I win Anatometal.” Soon, I was finished at the dentist (thanks Brian and Betsy) and I got back to my volunteer responsibilities. I received   a few much-needed hugs from my volunteer buddies and got back to my room to write my info on my raffle tickets. At 7:07pm, I went back downstairs with 200 tickets in my hand. I figured, at least I’ll go home with “something” by placing them in Wednesday’s raffle. Yet another change of plans! I missed the raffle by seven minutes. I thought the last entry was 8 pm, but now I was seven minutes late.

I remember panicking to my wife on the phone “what if I don’t win on Thursday? I think I may have just wasted a lot of money.” She just kept assuring me, “This will all be worth it when you win Anatometal tomorrow.” I took a deep breath and hoped she was right. That night, I went to bed with my raffle tickets under my pillow, telling them we were destined for great things.  I woke up on Thursday, set-up my classes (as part of my AV responsibilities), did some other things with the tickets that I won’t mention for superstitious reasons, and then went to the Expo floor. As I dropped all of my tickets in the spinning acrylic raffle drum, my head was reeling with all the other things that money could have gone to. The car, the groceries, the rent. I forced those thoughts aside and continued on with my day. As I walked into the Banquet I heard the sounds of Jamiro- quai and immediately started dancing. It may have looked like I was enjoying myself, but I was legitimately going crazy in my head trying to work out the probability that I would win. One thing was certain: gambling is not for the faint-of-heart.

Just like that, it was raffle time! I started a video chat with my wife because it was important to me that she was included, since she had made the sacrifice not to come. When they called my name for the first prize I honestly thought I was dreaming. I had envisioned this moment daily for months on end during every drive into work. This was really happening! I was celebrating so hard with the volunteers around me and my wife over the phone, that in all the chaos I didn’t even know that they were calling other tickets. The second winner was apparently chosen, but I was still screaming. Crying. Trying to wrap my head around what was happening. Then, it happened again. I heard my name, but it wasn’t processing. I was looking around for help. “What does that mean?” I was asking, frantically, shouting even! Jason Heeney confirmed what I thought I heard, in fact, the second prize was mine too. In response, I seriously lost my shit. I was so thrilled and shocked. There was a high- pitched tone that grew louder and louder in my head. I was going deaf and couldn’t see. I was seconds from passing out.

The next thing I remember was being leaned up against the back wall with a glass of water in my hand, surrounded by all the volunteers; my wife still on my phone in our video chat. I looked around at everyone and felt so much love at this moment. Suddenly, the whole banquet hall went quiet and I thought I was about to pass out again. I guess everyone was just as shocked as me to hear my name called a THIRD time. What. The. F#@?

I am literally the luckiest piercer alive right now. Just like that, I went from being a nobody, to being a nobody with a ton of Anatometal. Thank goodness for changed plans, running late, and yes, even for excruciating tooth pain. As it turns out, it was all worth it when I won not one, not two, but THREE of the grand prizes from Anatometal.

I can’t help but feel like the whole experience was made more special because it marked the 10 year anniversary of Josh Prentice’s passing. While I didn’t know Josh personally, the volunteers who were fortunate enough to work with him are profoundly affected by his memory. I’m honored to be a Conference volunteer. Thank you Caitlin, for this continued opportunity and to all of the other volunteers for your genuine love. I am so fortunate to be able to surround myself with such amazing people each year at Conference and am honored to call you my friends.

It goes without saying that I can’t thank Anatometal enough for donating these prizes. They have changed my entire life, both on a professional and a personal level.