News writer
Some people frame their winning lottery tickets as a memento of their good fortune, but a Michigan woman had something a little different in mind when she checked her Lucky for Life ticket. Before claiming her $25,000 a year for life prize, the Wayne County woman couldn't help but circle the winning numbers as if marking them could make the unbelievable a bit more real.
She even scribbled down a possible payout amount — $390,000 — perhaps to help make sense of what was happening. But even with the proof right in front of her, she and those around her still struggled to believe what they were seeing. It wasn't until she visited the store where she bought the ticket that reality finally started to sink in.
Couldn't believe what they were seeing
A woman from Wayne County said it “just feels good” after winning $25,000 a year for life playing the Lucky for Life draw game from the Michigan Lottery. However, it was a team effort to get her to believe what her eyes were telling her.
Charmaine Tate of Van Buren Township won during the February 9 drawing. The winning white balls for the drawing were 8, 13, 22, 28, and 39, and the Lucky Ball was 12.
Tate matched all five of the winning white balls but missed out on matching the Lucky Ball to win the draw game's second-tier prize, which is $25,000 a year for life.
She bought the winning ticket at the Canton Mini Mart, located at 42421 Cherry Hill Road in Canton. Tate went to that retailer to check her winning ticket, and she told lottery officials, “None of us could believe what we were seeing!”
Tate said she is an avid lottery player and has always dreamed of winning a huge prize. I guess that time has finally come after this big win.
Claiming her prize
The lucky winner recently visited the lottery headquarters to claim her prize. For this Lucky for Life prize, winners can choose between receiving annuity payments of $25,000 a year for 20 years or for life, whichever is greater, or a one-time lump sum payment of $390,000.
Tate chose the one-time lump sum payment. With those winnings, she told lottery officials she plans on buying a new home.
She added:
I have always thought about how it would feel and what I would do if I won but never expected to find out. Winning just feels good!
Doodling on the winning ticket
Before Tate claimed her prize, it looks like she did a little doodling on the ticket, which made me giggle. She seemed to be struggling with believing her numbers matched, so she went on the ticket and circled each number that matched one of the winning numbers drawn.
Then she scribbled what looks like $390,000 on the top of the ticket. She must have been doing some research and trying to figure out what her payout options were. Since she chose the one-time lump sum payment, she must have written that $390,000 to remind herself.
It was her ticket, so she could do with it what she wanted. However, I would be paranoid and not want to ruin my winning ticket.
Enjoy playing the Michigan Lottery, and please remember to play responsibly.
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