My first and only lottery ticket

I can remember the day I turned 18 years old. I had been waiting for this day my entire life! It was the day I was able to buy my very first scratch off lottery ticket.
I was on cloud nine. It was my birthday, on a Saturday, and I knew for sure it was a good day. How could I not win my very first scratch off?
Before I was 18 years old, my parents used to buy me everything, and when I say everything, I mean everything.
Before walking into my favorite convenience store, I came to a realization that I had to pay for this scratch off ticket all by myself.
I asked my dad for advice on how I could win on my very first lottery ticket. He told me that the first step to winning is to actually buy the ticket first.
I laughed as I had to get out of the car, and then I realized I was seeing my birthday money leave my wallet. It made me devastated to spend my birthday money, and looking back, it was only one dollar I was spending on this ticket. Why was I even devastated?
This was just my first real experience buying a scratch off ticket and understanding that I’m spending money on something that I might or might not get any money back from.
Getting back into the car I had the first step to my dad’s advice already done. I was smiling, giggling and extremely excited to win from the first lottery ticket I had just bought.
I was confident I’d win scratching this ticket, which was tic-tac-toe themed.
Growing up tic-tac-toe was my favorite game to play with chalk. I had a connection with the game, and that was a confidence booster for me.
There I am, scratching, smiling, scratching, smiling with two number threes in a row, one more and I win three dollars. I knew I had those three dollars. It was waiting for me. As I’m scratching for the third three to appear, it doesn’t.
I took a deep breath out while realizing that I didn’t win. I had waited so many years, for just one win on my actual birthday. How could this be; how could I not win?
It seemed to me that although I didn’t win the three dollars, I tried and that’s just the art to playing the lottery.
It might seem odd that I haven’t bought a ticket in almost three years, but should I really? As I turn 21 later this year, I am even faced with the question of gambling on my family vacation to Lake Charles, La. I think I would actually win every time if luck were not involved.