The Fantastic Voyage - - and We're Off...!

"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."
-- Lao-Tzu


Greetings and welcome to my Blog! *laughs out loud* I simply must pause here because I just caught an unsightly error: I inadvertently wrote "welcome to my blob," and that is just not the mood I want to set for my very first entry! Oh goodness. It's going to be a fun year - I can tell.

Before I endlessly blab on and on - err... provide thoughtful detailed account - about this whirlwind first week, some very warm and heartfelt thank yous are in order. First and foremost, my brand-shiny-and-new Executive Director, Peggy Miller! Thank you for your kindness, your commitment, and your sincere dedication. I am so honored and proud to be your very first Miss Washington! To know you, is to love you; and I'm so excited to have the privilege of getting to know you even better! Also, my family. I could say thank you 'till I'm blue in the face and I still wouldn't have been able to adequately express how much I love and appreciate you, your time, and all you've done and do for me. So, spare me a blue face and accept all my gratitude from the bottom of my heart. My family has been my rock, my entertainment, my cheering section, and my safe haven. As far as pageants are concerned, if I am the star - you are the heavens. Hugs are soon to follow.

I can't forget to recognize my fellow Sister Contestants. Can you believe it ladies? We made it through pageant week unscathed! woo-hoo! I apologize to those who will elicit a cringe response (because I'm certain that reaction will follow), but there's just something about spending a week cooped up in a hotel that binds us together with an unbreakable bond. Perhaps it's the endless swapping of battle scars and war-stories... body glue mishaps, significant other woes and complaints, wardrobe malfunctions, the obligatory director anecdote, and, of course, sheer goofiness. Without sounding like a sappy Hallmark card, you beautiful young women have inspired me, entertained me, and shared something very precious with me. Three cheers for the Miss Washington Class of 2007! (Recall, we did in fact have a "hip-hip-hooray" session during the week.) Again - hugs are sure to follow. To Heather Laible, Miss Greater Vancouver, no set of roommates was ever matched together more perfectly. I have a special place in my heart for you. And to Allison, Miss Emerald City - hopefully you remain my partner in crime. Pageant week, as a pair, was entirely enjoyable. You taught us all a little something about grace.

My esteemed Director Darrin - I truly have no words. And this is only because we're on the phone so often that I think we've covered it all! Ha! Oh, I'm teasing. You are the best director any girl could ever ask for. I am so blessed to have had the chance to work with you and am pleased to consider you my fourth Dad! And last - but certainly not least in any way, shape, or form - the volunteers! State and local volunteers make pageant world go 'round. I am indebted to your graciousness and your hard work. Without you, there are no local titleholders and conversely, there is no Miss Washington. Without you - I'm out of a job! Even so, I'm grateful for you and all of your tireless efforts. At a minimum, I am committed to having the best year humanly possible as a tribute and a thank you for all you do - - I'll do my best to make you proud!

It seems that I've managed to fill this space with very little record of what my week has actually been like. Hmm.. how'd that happen? Let me preempt this year of service with one little cautionary message. While I have the absolute best of intentions, my "little notes" frequently err on the lengthy side. So I urge all of you, who haven't recently done so, to seek out an eye doctor of your choice to have your vision examined. If you didn't have "bad eyes" before this post, it is likely you do now because what was supposed to be brief turned itself into an epic novel. Those of you who already know me and my "longish" writing style, knew to expect this. More on the week will follow shortly. I'm off to an important appointment this afternoon... a Haircut! I suggested a Samurai-style shave and pony-tail.. but Peggy objected. Three inches it is.

Cheers to a fabulous year, my first entry, and the Nevada Trail. (I'm going to tentatively call my journey to Miss America the Nevada Trail. I liken it to the Oregon trail not in the sense that I hope to tragically lose loved ones in wagon wheel accidents along the way, but we - as a family- have got our eyes on the prize.) We're headed out for the unknown, and the journey alone is going to be the adventure of a lifetime.


Love & Blessings,

elyse*