Persistence paid off yesterday.  I went to bed frustrated that my hopes of getting tickets during the on-line distribution—the first time ever the White House has done it this way as opposed to handing them out on a first come first serve basis to people who’ve camped out the weekend before—had fizzled.

I was disappointed and had not yet fallen asleep. Nowadays, if I’m not about to get into bed or about to fall asleep by 7:30, I panic knowing I will get less than six hours of sleep before I have to head to work. The tickets were supposed to be offered beginning Thursday. I checked the White House website after I was at work… at 3 a.m., 4… and at random intervals following. It wasn’t until around 8 that I saw the “click here” to take me to the link to that would give me a shot at getting tickets.   

I thought I’d gotten through. I got as far as the “captcha”—the technical name, I’ve since learned, for the screen that asks you to enter the what you see in the box (letters and numbers.) But then, the computer timed out. UGGH.

I tried again. Every time after I would click “buy”—even though the tickets are free—to select the time I wanted to go, I was told there were no seats available.

I still had hope. Tickets were supposed to be released at various times throughout the day. All I had to do was continue to check back. I did, until I finally resigned to the fact that I would not be able to take my daughter to her first Easter Egg Roll at the White House. The fact that she wouldn’t remember it anyway offered me no consolation.

I lay in bed, awake, but rolled over at 7:34 to try one last time. Still on my side, I checked the website for what I hoped would be one last time. The tickets were being offered right then!! I quickly pulled the laptop up on my lap and sat up. As uncomfortable as I was, I had no time to get into a better position. I’d gotten to that catcha page again and wanted to make sure I entered the correct letters and numbers. By the way, does anyone else have a problem figuring out what letters they are sometimes? 

It went through. My husband leaned over and said. “I never got to that page.” I snapped back, “I haven’t either, don’t jinx it!”

As I continued to type, I called my morning director to tell him the tickets were being offered. He witnessed my futile efforts all day and said he’d try too. He got on the website but by 7:40, he got a message saying the tickets were no longer available.

I was in a page asking for my name and address. I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel. Enter, click. I got to another new page telling me my order number but then telling me it would take four minutes to do something… Please don’t time out, please don’t time out.

Finally, I was confirmed. The next message read I would be e-mailed the tickets in a few days. Wow, the technology that frustrated me all day was now going to send me the ticket to the roll. Do I sound as crazy as I feel like I sound right now? I guess that’s what having kids does to you. I just thought she’d like it… Kinda like sitting on Santa’s lap. She didn’t appreciate it the day she did it but she’ll appreciate all the pictures I snapped of her crying and pleading for me to take her back into my arms one day, right?

Anyway… after a late night for this morning gal, I had what I spent a good part of the day trying to get. Now I just have to hope I can get the day off!!!