I arrived at the Gala venue at 3:15. The event started at 6. I had twisted my silky dark hair up into a chignon, fastened it with sparkly pins, applied enough curling gel to my strands to make curls last for days (they did) and secured the pin curls with pins. My car is overloaded with 75 large silver Swag Bags for all of the guests. I am exhausted and very close to not attending the evenings function. Three of us had worked from 3 – 7:30 the night before preparing the bags, the lightest of which weighed in at about 4 pounds. They were filled with swag from many of our members that just days before my business associate (L) and I had gathered. I am much stressed; we have not seen or heard from our committee head. She did not say she could not be there to help set up the bags, nor did she come by after work to see if we needed help. She did not offer to help transport these bags, or set up the venue. It is now 5:30. L and I have set up the tables. We have put the correct swag bag at the correct table with the correct name; we have set up the sponsorship level of the tables in conjunction with the front of the room. I rush upstairs and I apologize to anyone I snapped at on my way to the room. I still need to prepare the door for the speakeasy. I draw on an immense amount of eyeliner and brush on some powder and paint on some juicy garnet lips. So much for makeup….. I pull the pins out of my hair and the curls on the side jump back up into tight little blobs of curl. NOT what I had in mind but it does look very 1926…I am pleased. (First smile of the night). I slide my dress on throw my lip sticks into an evening bag strap on my shoes and off I dash downstairs. I do not even have a chance to take one last look at the dining room. I shroud the door and just as it is about to be 6 there is still no sight of our committee head.  I am now convinced she will show up late and take all the credit for the evening’s success. The guests start to arrive and to my surprise and immense joy many of them have made the effort to appear in 1920s style evening wear. They are even providing the speak word. One door is unlocked and easy for me to open to admit the guest after the proper word is delivered the other door is locked. I open it enough to allow them to see me and I can see them and offer entrance. One guest not paying attention and not seeing I have opened the door and my head is there cannot open the ancient (1891) door so he slams his body into it and it bursts open missing my face by a moment. The shroud covering the door falls to the floor, he steps all over it, he looks at me and says what word as he shoves his escorts through the entrance. His wife exclaims “you nearly hit her head!” he says “she is fine” and off he drags them. Still the head of the committee has not arrived. Cocktails are being served and L is sure I am getting my share however I do not even know what the appetizers are. At last, moments before dinner is served in she walks with her escort, hair looking fabulous, makeup perfect and a beautiful little red fringy dress. Has it crossed her mind that she did not make sure there were programs, place cards, gifts or anything else? Did she pause to wonder who decorated and set things up? Is she thinking who is staying last to ensure things that need to get back to us do?    As we, L and I, are setting up she remembers we had joked to Cass about my place card saying princess since that is what L calls me. I sign up for events as Lady Tamara. Cass knows this. L laughs and says my card say Lady Tamara Pearis. I smile. Later as I finally am able to sit to dinner I look at my place card and there in a beautiful script is written my name and it does say Lady. For some reason this one single moment is the very high light of my night. I relax, I smile, I even receive a Chairman’s award from the Executive Director and the Chair of the Board. That is a total surprise and causes me tears which now have me looking like the Joker from Batman or Jet Lei from the Crow.  Lady Tamara in writing at a table …… I loved jumping in and taking charge of what I could on that committee. So…….maybe next year I want to be the head and host a few meetings and then just show up and be fabulous.

I am NOT that type of Lady…. I am A Scottish Warrior Lady and strapping on my Claymore and targe, kilting my loins and heading to battle is more my style.

Lady Tamara www.LairdOfLochaber.com ..................... Priceless