2012 Gala

The theme for this year's Gala was, "Enduring Valor: Illuminating Traditions of Excellence."  Pretty snazzy, right?  I swore off of doing the silent auction last year and had trained Molly to take over.  Well, Molly decided she liked doing the Silent Auction so much that she wanted to be in charge of the ENTIRE Gala!  Crazy - right!?  (She actually joined our Development team in July and is now over the events for our Foundation.) 

So, being the friend that I am I said I would handle the Silent Auction again this year, but only if I could have Erin helping me.  They quickly agreed and I went to work on ideas of how to present the items.  I spent a ton of time looking at DIY blogs, Pinterest, Michael's to form ideas of how I wanted it to look.  I already knew the colors I wanted and just needed a inviting and creative way to combine everything.  Molly and I had already discussed the previous year about using frames to hold the descriptions of the Silent Auction items and I liked it! 

Erin and I met pretty regularly or were constantly on the phone with ideas and colors and she spent hours and hours at stores purchasing everything.  She also was very instrumental in keeping the design simple and elegant.  She painted all of the frames, candlestick holders, decorative balls, little wooden sticks...  Seriously, so much help!!  We spent a few late nights at the office putting together the descriptions and frames (we were there one night until 3 AM).  But it created a very relaxing environment for the day of the event. 

In the process of getting ready for the Gala, it was announced that it was going to be Black Tie optional...  Oh dear, that meant a floor length dress and it had to be nice.  Luckily, Macy's pulled through and my dress ROCKED!  Major thanks to my mother's surprise visit on my birthday, she took the dress home and took off about 5-6 inches since I am a shorty!  Seriously, I put it on and felt like a princess!  Having never been to Prom, this was my night to get all dressed up and just have fun... 

 So, here are a few pictures from the event.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't have pulled it off this year if I didn't have Erin with me!  She calmed me down when I was angry and helped me stay calm when my nerves were getting the best of me!  THANK YOU SIS!   :)  I am waiting for Erin to send me the pictures she took on her phone of the two of us - our tradition for the last FIVE Galas!!

Alzheimer's Walk 2011

I am playing a little catch up on a couple of things. The first is completing my fourth walk to end Alzheimer's.

Working in the place that I do, I see the effects of this terrible disease on a daily basis. I have watched family members struggle to understand why their loved one doesn't understand they aren't a child anymore. I have seen as an individual as slowly forgotten how to walk and eat - it really is a terrible disease.

Without fail this walk always brings a tear or two into my eyes as I see the crowds of people walking for the same cause I am.

This was a beautiful day for a walk and we had a GREAT team! We raised a total of $850!!! I was so proud of the team! We also had eight walkers, although a couple ended up getting a stomach bug and couldn't join us on the actual walk.

I am so grateful to all of those who supported me with this. I know that this is making a difference in the fight!

Speaking of fight - I had the song, "Eye of the Tiger" in my head the whole time and since I only know the one line sang it over and over! Most likely annoying the other walkers! :)

Here are a few shots from the walk!

At the beginning totally pumped to walk the 3 miles!

Lots of people joined us this year!

So excited!!

We reached the halfway mark - lost half of our team, but still going strong!

History Lesson...

Today I had the opportunity to speak with a resident who is originally from Belgium. She came down seeking information about her account and one thing led to another and she started telling me about when she was a young woman during WWII.

I sat fascinated as she recounted story after interesting story. I will try and share just a little bit of what I learned.

When she was about 16, her father who was a officer in the Belgium military was taken captive by German soliders. He was taken to a camp near the Germany and Poland borders, she couldn't remember the name. The prisoners soon realized that they wouldn't be leaving alive and decided to designate one person they would try and save to tell their families what happened. The prisoners gave food and clothing to this officer and ultimately gave their lives and when the British and American soliders arrived, he was the only one to walk out of the gates alive. He came and spoke of the terrors of the camp, of having to place the bodies in the furnace. Her father died in that camp... The man who survived, lived two months after being freed.

She was living with her mother in an apartment building on the third floor. There was an elderly German woman who lived beneath them and eventually a German officer moved in with her. She told me that when they were in the elevator, she would turn her back to him and never spoke to him. It was out of fear and hatred!

When she was 18, she received a summons/order to report to the German Camp. She called upon a friend of her father's whom she trusted and shared the order. She told him how she never worked a day in her life and couldn't understand why they would want her! She said that this friend looked at her and with sad eyes explained that she was blonde and blue eyed and just what the Germans where looking for to reproduce the perfect German. This friend then told her that she should report, via letter, that she is working for him and actually start "working" for him immediately. She was to report to his office every day in case they investigated this claim.

She told me that he eventually helped three additional girls and about seven young men. She said that some of the men disappeared and they were too scared to even ask questions. She said that one of the girls came from a farm and every week she brought fresh eggs and a slice of bread per person for them to share. She stated that the food she shared was rare and precious! She spoke of a little mouse that would come around at least twice a week and became a friend of this group... when the time arrived that they were able to leave, she was sad she couldn't take her mouse friend with her.

She eventually married an American Officer and became a US Citizen. Her sister, the only living person left in her family, disowned her when she became a citizen. She doesn't know if she is still alive or if she has passed.

After spending quite some time sharing this with me she said, "Always find the laughter in life, it's what will help you survive all the misery and pain!" She wanted to make sure that I understood that even through the war she made sure that she laughed and laughed often. Otherwise, the sadness can swallow you whole.

It was only a short while that she was in my office, but what she said had an impact on me. I work in an environment that is rich with history of the world! I hope that as I continue to work there, more stories will be told and I will still take the time to listen.

I've Got it Rough!

It is a really hard day at work today.

I had to ride around in a golf cart when I first arrived at work to make sure that my co-worker wouldn't drive too fast for our residents.

I then had to attend a Garden Party and wear my fancy hat and eat little party sandwiches and treats...


From there I had to go and attend a Luau in the Assisted Living and participate in the hula dancing contest...

What can I say other than it was a rough day at work! :)

Brain, where did you go!?

Dear Brain

Where did you go? Why can't you be here when things are crazy and I am slow to focus?? Brain, please come back!

Forever Yours,

Taci

Have you ever been so overwhelmed that you can't focus? That is me today. Between work and life I fear that my brain has been overloaded and has gone into hiding! I just started my week of long hours at the office and although I am excited to see next Wednesday arrive, I have to constantly remind myself of things that really need to be done. My list of "to do's" now includes everyday things like eat lunch! Another example is my blogging when I really should be entering receipts and making a few phone calls!

Okay - peace out! If you find my brain, please tell it to come home!