"Just Say 'Hi'"  
If you're ever passing through Crystal Lake, be sure to say "hi" to Carolyn Dushane. A joke landed her in the hot seat on ABC's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" show, as well as made her the center of attention in the Chicago suburb.

Carolyn and her sister, who lives in San Diego, have been watching the show and calling the hotline. Carolyn got through, her sister didn't.
"She's still trying to do it," said Carolyn about her sister. "She was one of my lifelines, though I didn't have to call her." Carolyn didn't have to call her sister because she didn't need any help.

"They (the questions) weren't very difficult. They were just weird," said Carolyn, "until one stumped me."

What is the lowest the United States has ever finished in overall medals at the Summer Olympics?

  • A. 2
  • B. 3
  • C. 4
  • D. 5
Carolyn said she didn't have any idea what the correct answer was, so she called her brother-in-law, whom she describes as a "sports guru." Unfortunately, he didn't know the answer, either. She decided to play it safe, and left with the $64,000. "I don't feel bad," said Carolyn, "because I've only met one person who knew the answer."

Carolyn is one of the handful of women who has made it on to the show and into the hot seat. However, that day in February, she was following another woman, Stephanie Girardi, who is from Wilmette. Girardi won half a million dollars before leaving the show.

"Regis was all excited because there were two women on the same show," said Carolyn, who says being in the hot seat was "nerve-wracking." So nerve-wracking, in fact, that she may have scared Regis when he asked how she was feeling. "I am freaking out!" she said. Regis simply turned and walked away.

In the hot seat, Carolyn had to sit on her hands she was so afraid of shaking. "I was kicking my feet back and forth like a toddler," said Carolyn. "I really, honestly, did not speak."

Winning $64,000 was a "strange experience" for Carolyn, who put all the money in the stock market. Carolyn and her husband own a new home construction business, which is why she says they don't have time to spend any of the money anyway.

"We're really busy, building 50 or so homes this year. (We) don't have time. Maybe later," said Carolyn.

For the first month or so after the show aired, Carolyn says people would recognize her. Now, it's not so often, although she does hear people whispering every once in awhile.

"You could just say, 'hi,'" laughs Carolyn. So, next time you see Carolyn, don't whisper. Just walk on over and say "hi."