If you have been following our posts, there is some kind of tradition surging, a gift-giving of scratch-off tickets. It seems that people have started including buying a token of good faith with the most sincere wish for the receiver to receive a windfall and for some that has proved to be the best experience ever for a couple of winners. Not to say the least of the best gift ever for each special occasion.

Anthony ‘Tony’ Sharp, 46, received a “Holiday Wishes” scratch ticket from his boss as a gift. He is usually a Powerball player, chasing after the big jackpot, but is more than glad his boss decided to give out scratch tickets this year. Sharp is a lead quality assurance inspector for Revstone Casting in Fairfield. National lottery

“I got through the first two lines with no matches,” Sharp said. “Then I matched two 18s and it said $50,000 and I was just blown away.”

This is the first time he ever plays the game and he resulted a winner.

The first person Sharp called was his girlfriend, Brenda Kinger. Lottery numbers

“The first thing I said was, ‘You’re lying to me.’ I didn’t believe it,” said Kinger.

When Kinger returned home from the store, she and Sharp took the ticket to a local retailer to have it validated.

“I kind of got a little out of hand at Hy-Vee because I was so excited,” Kinger said with a laugh. “Nothing like this has ever happened before. Everybody told us congratulations.”

Sharp said the cashier who validated the ticket was also so excited, she gave Sharp a high-five.

“He’s done a lot for a lot of people, so it’s his turn now,” Kinger said.

Sharp called his boss to thank him for the gift. But the boss who initiated this winning was actually also shocked to receive the news.

“He didn’t believe me when I told him why I wouldn’t be in,” Sharp said as he claimed his prize Wednesday at the Iowa Lottery’s headquarters in Des Moines. “I still don’t think he believes me.”

Both Sharp and Kinger still can´t belief how lucky that win was, given that were out of the nine tickets Sharp’s boss gave out, he got the big winner. The couple is still in awe.

“It’s almost like Willy Wonka and the Golden Ticket,” Kinger said.

After this amazing gift, a gift that was given disguised as a scratch-off ticket, what comes next? Sharp said he plans to use some of his winnings to pay bills, as well as possibly take a trip somewhere warm. The perfect gift for the perfect season.

The ticket was purchased at Jet Stop, 120 E. Burlington Road in Fairfield.