Ahoy, Mateys!

June 12, 2024, a very Sherry summer celebration!

A few of us booked a dinner cruise on a glorious summer evening. I was feeling it so had some pre-cruise fun in my cute little dress. I also tended to a delivery for work, which put me downtown well before the boarding time. I poked around the Rock Hall for about an hour and then sat at a bar near the water and enjoyed an adult beverage.

I boarded before my associates and sat at our table and immediately connected with a couple on vacation in Cleveland from Kansas City. They were the only people at our table that was not part of our group, but they immediately fit right in. The whole experience was great! The food was good, the weather was perfect, great company, we danced on the top deck and saw the wonderful views of the city.

One encounter really stood out for me. I was on the top deck, simply looking at the view. Now remember, what I looked like and what I was wearing. A gentleman comes up and starts asking me questions about a certain venue we are watching. The conversation continued, he was back in town for his 55th High School reunion. From Cleveland but now living in North Carolina. His wife then came over and we simply continued our conversation. I always find it fascinating who will strike up a conversation with me while dressed and do so in such a natural fashion. It is a gift, I do know that!

July 14, 2024 a company I work for was a sponsor for a networking event held by an organization called Woman Up Cleveland. So I wanted to make an appearance since my business card, along with many others, was included in every single tote bag given out. To make a day of it, I did what is without question, my single favorite thing to do and will come to an end in a few weeks. I went to my church. But first, a very girly photoshoot!

Our pastor and the wonderful woman that is his wife are retiring August 3. While the congregation will, of course, remain, the heart and soul of that place will change. It may well be just as good, but there is no way it will be better. I walk into that place (which I cannot do as often as I would like) and I am treated like absolute gold. On this day, it was one compliment after another on my dress and the bow (had to do that!). Deanne, the amazing “first lady” of the church, asked of she could sit next to me and all I can say is she made me cry. I do not expect anyone to remember (check it out here) but I attended the wedding of Deanne’s daughter on July 1, 2023. On this day, she again thanked me for being there. I told her a few things I still remember about that day. One, John (her husband and our pastor) invited anyone from the church, so I had to come. Two, I love weddings! Three, I love being female at weddings!! And four, I will never, ever forget. As I sat on the end of the aisle, as she walked her daughter down the aisle, she noticed me and she gently placed her hand on my arm, acknowledging in THAT MONENT, that she appreciated me being there. She was walking her daughter down the aisle (John, in his role, was officiating and already up front) and she was touched by me….wow!

The love in that place is palpable.

It’s more that that. Cynthia and Marvin are an interracial couple whom I have known now at two different churches. Marvin (African-American, I only note that to further underscore how amazing this place is) and I always simply talk and argue sports, particularly our wrenched football team. And he usually finds out I am right and he is wrong because he still cannot wrap his head around the fact that this football team (since 1964) never has been and never will be any good. The greatest football player ever walked away back then and took with him any hope of ever, for centuries, winning. Why tell you this? Because on what planet can someone dressed like this have a natural conversation with someone like Marvin? And be so naturally accepted.

The Woman Up event was lovely, but my participation brief because it was mostly an event for small woman-owned business like jewelry, skin care products and the like. Since we sponsored the event, I felt we contributed to the cause. But is was kinda nice to be “one of the girls”!

Yeah, this post is too long, but just wait, I am dedicating myself to being the best woman I can be!