"I Felt Like a Real-Live Celebrity..."

"I love deadlines. Especially the whooshing sound they make as they pass by."
-- Douglas Adams

I’m fighting the urge to pick up my newest reading adventure, The Da Vinci Code (yes, I’m far behind the times and started the book only two days ago). But – I have been boldly struck with the stark realization that I haven’t updated my blog recently and the list of those reminding me to do so is growing as long as a country mile. So with coffee in hand as usual, here I am to take care of business! But first an apology: not only for the tardiness of this entry *hangs head* but for my empty and unfulfilled promise that I’d respond with the official Miss America info in a prompt fashion. Are you ready? Is your heart simply brimming with intense anticipation? Has the suspense caused you to toss and turn late into the night? Do you enjoy my ridiculous use of goofy and leading questions to help build the tension? I assume the answer is no (to all of these), because the information is now available via this blog’s mothership – err, I mean.. www.missamerica.org. However, if this is your primary source for “pageant news,” I salute your diligence and am honored to share the following with you. We have a date, location, and network! Woo-Hoo!!

Our new home is on TLC - Miss America is back in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on January 26th! It’s great to know all those details but honestly, I would have settled for just knowing the date. Now that we have something to work backwards from, we can plan my preparation accordingly. There’s the customary shopping, working out, and paperwork business to tend to, but I’m also very interested in staying involved with the YWCA as a volunteer, promoting my platform, and mock interviewing. I believe my exact words to Mrs. Miller were, “Mock interview me to death.” But now that I see that in print, perhaps my words were too strong… Any-hoo, we have lots of work to do and I’m anxious to get to it!

I can’t seriously believe it is the 22nd of August. Where did this entire month go? Yipes! I’m really focused on savoring every moment and experience my year of service has to offer… but it’s increasingly difficult when time insists on flying by! If I can get my brain to switch gears, I’d like to share with you an incredible experience I had up in Bellingham several weeks ago. Evelyn Jefferson, Chairwoman of Lummi Nation, kindly invited me up to a very special event called “Paddle to Lummi – Canoe Journey 2007.” Carol Starcher accompanied me on this trip and we agreed that it was one of the most unique and inspiring appearances either one of us had ever been to. The website for this (www.paddletolummi.com) describes this event by saying, “The Journey seeks to honor the centuries-old custom of transport, harvest and trade by the Coast Salish tribes, many who traveled the waters to meet and gather for festivities. Relationships are strengthened, family ties are renewed, and young and old gather together during this drug and alcohol free event. Our Elders believe that through canoe-pulling, we achieve perfect harmony and balance. This is schelangen, the Lummi way of life.”

Canoes travel from as far as Alaska and for as long as two weeks to take part in this annual event. Very few times in my life have I ever felt such warm hospitality and genuine pride as I did on Lummi’s sacred shores. I was greeted with a hero’s welcome! I told Peggy, “I felt like a real-live celebrity up there!” I think she responded with something to the effect of, “Well… yah.” *giggle* Guess I’m still getting used to the Miss Washington persona. There were times during my tour of the festivities when I was surrounded – and sometimes bombarded – with young and old alike asking for autographs, photos, and simply a handshake. I hugged elders, kissed babies, and was showered with gifts. I came home with nearly a dozen new articles of clothing, the most exciting being my hand-made cedar hat (this sort of artifact is of the kind that are displayed in museums) and my shell and bead medallion. These traditional gifts are very dear to my heart and I will cherish them always. Another significant gift from several members of Lummi Nation was the honor song that was given to me while standing on the shore. The experience was moving beyond words. It was the kind of moment where your skin tingles and your insides are overcome with warmth because the reality of it is so surreal, like a baptism or new awakening. I can’t thank these people enough for their kind words or the loving prayers they sent to me through song.

I was given the opportunity to address the “Treaty Talk” session as well as the general assembly. I spoke briefly about my platform, the program, and how excited I was to represent Native America as the first American Indian to wear the Miss Washington crown. After several hours of mingling and visiting, we retired to the beautiful Silver Reef Casino where Evelyn hosted a grand dinner for Carol, my cousin Paul (who has several ties to Lummi Nation), Paul’s grandmother Bessie, and I at their Steakhouse. Carol and I were expecting BBQ’d meat on a Styrofoam plate and maybe an ear of corn. You know - nothing too fancy, just picnic/comfort food. So you can imagine our surprise when we are brought to a beautifully decorated and dimly-lit eatery and then served cuisine that rivals a seven-course meal! It was spectacular. I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to spend time with so many Native people from so many beautiful coastal tribes. I look forward to participating in other American Indian events during my year and am hopeful that we can collaborate on several projects in the future.

Let’s see now... what else is worth mentioning..? Well, since returning from Orlando I’ve paid a visit to Jill Ogden for a trim, had lunch with my former Miss Seattle director Darrin Emerick and Miss Seattle's Silver Cloud Inn sponsor, engaged in some serious planning with Peggy Miller, and taped an interview with Comcast Local Edition. This is a program that airs daily on CNN Headline News featuring government and community leaders. I had the chance to chat with Stella Thurkill about my time “in office” and my plans for the year. One of my judges, Mr. Buck Dopp, helped put this together for me and I extend to him one more heartfelt thank you!

In the coming days, I have several meetings to attend and about a million emails to send. If there are grammatical or typographical errors in this post, please blame them on the partial numbness I’m experiencing in my phalanges due to excessive emailing. Ah, the glamours of titleholder life. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.


Until next time,

elyse*


Photos from Paddle to Lummi:
http://plu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2023546&l=5cfa1&id=44902634