"You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven."
-- Jimi Hendrix
This blog was almost entitled, “Pageant Pandemonium,” to reflect the whirlwind of local pageants during the month of March. However, as a devoted college basketball fan, and a friend of Miss Kansas and her beloved Jayhawks, I simply couldn’t resist. The mayhem begins when I arrive in my hometown, Wapato, expecting to do a thirty-minute welcome for the WASA Small Schools Conference. 
I was filled with genuine surprise and elation upon learning that I’d be giving two forty-five minute motivational speeches to the entire student populations at Wapato Middle School and Wapato High School! It was a very special experience for me to address students at my alma matter and to take their questions about my Year of Service. Among the ‘Welcome Home’ signs, beautiful roses, autograph requests, and flashing camera-phones, the most surprising event was the video-recorded marriage proposal (complete with cherry flavored Ring Pop). 
Later that week I traveled the airwaves with Thane & Tom’s morning show as well as Kendall Weaver’s– both shows are broadcast out of Yakima. I can’t recall the topic of conversation but I’m guessing – and this is just a hunch – that it had something to do with going to Miss America. :D My seventeen year-old sister called me the other day and said, “I heard you on the radio again today.” “Really?” I asked, “What was I saying?” “I don’t know, I really wasn’t paying attention.” Ah, the intricacies of sisterly love…
I attended the Lakewood Rotary Meeting as a guest speaker and was entirely enthralled with the view of American Lake. It never ceases to amaze me just how lively Rotary meetings always prove to be. In fact, I believe that in some of the correspondence with the Rotarian who coordinated my visit, the meeting schedule read something like: Starts at noon… conduct club business and have some fun till One.. at which time we introduce our Speaker.
The Miss Lewis County Pageant had everything a local pageant should have – a wise-cracking duo of emcees, sassy production numbers, and a weepy eyed new titleholder… Easily my favorite way to spend a Saturday evening.
Early the next morning, the Pageant family trekked across the Cascades to the first annual Miss Yakima County and Miss Yakima County’s Outstanding Teen Pageant. While I –quite appropriately, I should think – show no favoritism whatsoever for any local program, I can’t help but beam with pride at the thought of my own hometown communities engaging in their first MAO local. Ok, truth be told, I was also beaming in part because the whole clan indulged me and headed to my favorite burger joint ever, Miners. Four letters: YUUM!
Later in the week I visited a group of students involved in an afternoon group counseling session to discuss the importance of diversity and making positive decisions. While I like to think the message was well-received, I’m thinking their interests peaked at learning how I kept the crown on my head. Inquiring minds want to know, right? Later that afternoon I visited the lunch meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Puyallup. After overcoming several slight technical difficulties – I like singing a capella, anyways – I gave a brief message about my experience at Miss America. For no reason in particular, that appearance was a blast and I must extend a humble thank you to Kerry Yanasak for graciously inviting and introducing me to Kiwanis.
That weekend commenced the Miss Whatcom County Pageant and, again, it was all the fun and excitement I’ve come to expect from a show. I was “shush-ed” backstage for giggling too loudly with Genay, I had a near wardrobe malfunction that Patti Belik helped me avoid with a skill she had to have learned on MacGyver, and I used only my fingers to delicately strip off the frosting off my cake after the show. Not to mention dinner at Red Robin with my family and the ever fabulous Uncle/Niece duo, Joey & Tina. Woo!
On a chilly Monday afternoon, I met a woman whom I would come to regard as Okaasan, Elizabeth Asahi Sato. We were instant friends and spent several hours that afternoon laughing and visiting about everything under the sun. In between the jokes and the anecdotes, we “interviewed” for an article she was putting together for a publication called, “Indian Life.” It was such an honor to be considered as newsworthy, but even more exciting to make such a dear friend in the process.
One production meeting and a day spa appointment later, I was off to Grandview, WA to spend the day with the University of Washington’s GEAR UP Career Fair escorted by tactful Patti Belik. I spoke with several hundred students about their career options after high school and college. Many of you in the Washington pageant family are aware that I was likened to a television pseudo-celebrity with the initials “T. T.” It was at this event. Kids still say the darndest things. And by “kids,” I mean “preteens.” And by “darndest,” I mean… nevermind. ;)
Next week I found myself giving two character trait assemblies at Firgrove Elementary. My college cheer coach, Kristen Barton, invited me and allowed me to spend some time with her class. Later that day I had a fitting with Item House, a cherished sponsor, for a beautiful new custom coat and then was disgusted to find myself driving home… in the snow! The Pacific Northwest can be downright mind-boggling.
One of the most precious experiences I’ve had as Miss Washington was a trip to Leavenworth to visit Icicle River Middle School. Two young girls contacted me by email more than a month prior to my visit to say that they were given a school project: as a pair, they were to prepare a presentation about someone they considered a “hero” who was from the state of Washington. I think the terms, “astounded” and, “choked up” best describe my reaction to the news that I was the person they selected. Naturally, I can’t imagine anything I’ve done to be worthy of the “hero” label. Nonetheless, these two sixth-graders were extraordinarily professional and their presentation to a fourth grade class was flawless. I’ll never forget how humbled I was to be in attendance that day.
The Miss Poulso/Miss Kitsap Pageant was an altogether good time as well. And would we expect anything less? Of course not! Music from Dreamgirls, my sister Lauren stepping in as traveling companion backstage, and – the piece de resistance – Champagne Cake at the afterparty! No complaints from this fun-loving M-Dub. (A college roommate of mine liked to refer to me as “M-Dub” in the same way we Husky fans call the University of Washington: “U-Dub.” Yes, this is the kind of ridiculous thing my friends and I have talked about. Yes, I know its trivial and goofy. It’s me we’re talking about – what would you expect?)
I had a lively meeting with several staffers from the YWCA Pierce County the following week and then found myself as the keynote speaker at the Washington Indian Education Association Annual Convention. I had an opportunity to share with many Native educators from around the state my personal story about growing up on a reservation and following the dreams and goals that led me to the Miss America stage. 
As a surprise, I was lucky to have my favorite person in the whole world sitting in the front row – my Grandma! There’s no better end to a chaotic month than a great big hug from my very own shero.
Here’s lookin’ at you,
elyse*
