November 1, 2024, The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation annual fundraiser Toast of The Town. We held our second Sneaker Ball at the House of Sadness, known officially now as Huntington Bank Field or the home of the Cleveland Clowns, the worst run professional sports franchise on the face of Earth.
I recently acquired a cute pair of sneakers which I wore to the recent HRC dinner. So, we brought them back out for another spin. Since they are leopard print, I always prefer a solid color dress to go with them. Still evolving my new makeup look, I walked out the door very proud of myself and my look. Having now done this for quite a few years, people remember me, chat me up and could not be kinder to me. This will never, ever get old, being one of the best dressed women at a high dollar fundraiser, a completely mainstream event, and being absolutely accepted, valued, and complimented (the shoes did draw rave reviews!).
I escorted the VIPs to the pre-dinner VIP cocktail party and was one of the two table seaters. I just smiled the entire time, knowingly exuding joy the whole time. I saw friends, made new friends and got the big hug from by bartender friend. Having worked numerous events at the House of Sadness, I know all the bartenders, and they know me (and treat me well!). After my shift ended, I had a cocktail and my dinner and then headed home early. I happened to walk out the same time as a husband who was heading to the parking garage to go back and pick up his wife. He immediately made small talk, we talked football and it did not make a bit of difference that I was wearing a dress. Life is indeed good!
A comment from Monday’s post, ‘What Do You Do?‘:
I have read all of your comments and have done none of the things you ladies mention. . . . Yet.
But that’s OK, because I feel like the little sister listening to my big grown up sisters and their friends talk and giggle. I sit, listen, and am awed at what will be mine when I get “big.”
And I think, “I can’t wait to grow up and be like my big sisters and their friends.”
Thank you all for sharing and helping lift my spirits on an evening where the press of dysphoria needed some push back.
Kindly,
Charlene
THIS is exactly why I do this, THIS is exactly why Kandi’s Land exists and THIS is exactly why we are a real community! Thank you, Charlene, and thank you ladies, all!
3 Responses
Cute dress, very cute sneakers, and the ever-present Kandi smile – a fabulous combination for a good cause!
I love this, Kandi. You always seem to bring so much joy into these events. The way people remember you, chat with you, and treat you like any other woman in the room… That’s my dream. I swear, reading posts like this gives me a little boost on the rough days.
And that dinner sounds amazing. Erie’s a bit of a haul for me, but maybe next year I can finally make the trip and say hi in person.
Hi Kandi, and I thank you ever so much for working hard to provide this special virtual meet up place. It has become important & so helpful to me; no doubt to many.
I love your real life stories. Just going about living natural & normal everyday woman situations is my dream.
You and others here are living my dream. Yet it is seeing the dream actually lived out that continues to erode the internal resistance making my dream seem more and more possible.
Thanks again.
Kindly,
Charlene