Sue Weist has been entering sweepstakes for 50 years.
"You don't expect to ever win but you try anyway," she said.
Weist, 74, always wanted to take her friend Annie Felkowski to Italy. Felkowski, 85, whose parents were from Italy and "spoke nothing but Italian until the day they died," did not have the means to go, Weist said.
In April, they got their wish - a trip for two to Italy - after Weist won a sweepstakes by Ross-Simons Jewelers. Weist only gets to travel twice a year because her husband suffers from Alzheimer's disease, so the opportunity to take Felkowski to Italy was especially meaningful.
The women explored Florence, Venice, Pisa and Murano under the guidance of Daniele Zavani, head of Ross-Simons' Italian office. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, a gondola ride in Venice and Murano's famous blown glass were among the highlights of the trip.
They also visited the Ross-Simons gold jewelry maker, where Weist bought her first 18-karat gold chain and got a personal tour of the shop.
The prize included $2,000 to spend in Italy and $5,000 to spend with Ross-Simons. Weist used the money to help pay for a grandfather clock and a diamond ring.
"This trip was fascinating from beginning to end," Weist said. "You hated to see it end. I can't put into words how wonderful it was."
Weist is no stranger to the sweepstakes experience. She enters them every day on her computer and weekly through magazine ads. In the 1970s, she and her husband enjoyed a prize trip to Utah. Weist has also cashed in on prizes such as a TV and gold watch.
The first contest that Weist won was in the 1960s through a local paper, when she had to compose a safety slogan. She banked $50 with the phrase, "Slow Down Brother Or You'll Be Six Feet Under."
"You win one, and you're hooked!" she said.
To view all Ross- Simons' Italian gold jewelry, visit www.ross-simons.com.
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