Joke #3: Why was the pianist smacking her head on the keys?!
Where do I even begin?! So much has happened since I last updated my blog, so please brace yourself for a long post. I actually had to pull out my calendar from the end of August and September to even remember everything that I’ve done these past weeks! I didn’t mind at all though, it was fun to look back at all of the adventures I have gotten to be a part of and the re-live some of the memories that were made. So let’s begin shall we…. :)
Just as I hoped it would, my schedule immediately picked up as soon as I got home from Orlando. The day after I returned I attended a Community Advocate Appreciation dinner and had the opportunity to kick back and enjoy the company of Donate Life Today staff and other volunteers. It was a blast to have the relaxed time together, to learn more about the inspiring stories behind everyone’s effort, and hear about everything Donate Life Today has done in Washington and Montana. Since then, so many exciting opportunities for my platform have come about which I will speak more of later… I have to post in chronological order or I just get all messed up! hehehe
In the beginning of September I was able to get up to Fischer Plaza in Seattle and have an interview with Carleen Johnson at KOMO radio. I was kind of nervous because it was one of the first times I had interviewed in any fashion since Miss Washington. Carleen is so wonderful though and asked perfect questions about Miss Washington and Donate Life and the butterflies did not last long at all! I believe that the interview is going to air in November, right in time for Give Thanks, Give Life month!
Before this year, the only golf I had ever seen was on TV and the extent of my playing experience was on the putt-putt course. (By the way, I am the master of putt-putt golfing and would dare anybody to challenge my skills on the green!) Okay back to what I was talking about… I went from never being on an official golf course or hitting a ball with anything but a cheap putter, to attending two golf tournaments in one week- one through Boss Construction that was fundraising for Children’s Hospital and the other through Brad Brotherton in support of the Arthritis Foundation. At the first tournament I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Dan Swank, brother of Academy Award Winning Hillary Swank! I snapped a picture with him and realized very quickly that we had two things in common, he was running for a city council position in Edmonds, (my dad is running for city council in Auburn), and we both know Patti Belik! What a small world :)
Also in September I had the opportunity to give a presentation to all of the Miss Seattle contestants at one of the Sunday rehearsals. This was one of my favorite appearances that I have ever gotten to do because I was able share with the 14 girls what I had learned from the past three years of competing in pageants. Not to sound too cheesy, but I love and appreciate our pageant system and I love sharing my joy and experiences with other people with the hope that they will find their own excitement for the program. It was also fun just to hang out and laugh with everyone as always!
Just a few days later, my little sister Anne and I got to hop in the victorious Vibe and take a little road trip to the west side of the state. We met up Amanda Cheatham, Executive Director for the new Miss West Sound pageant, to visit the Bremerton Central Lions Club. That was such a fun day- getting to spend time with my little sis, hear all about the new program that Amanda is working on and that I am so excited about, meet all of the enthusiastic Lions Club members of Bremerton, and we even got to squeeze in a visit with my aunt, uncle, and three sweet cousins that live over on that side of the water!
The city of Auburn honored me in a very special way that I still am having a difficult time getting my mind around. Very shortly after winning the title of Miss Washington, Mayor Pete Lewis proposed and got approved a hometown sign to be hung in Auburn that read, “Hometown of Miss Washington 2009, Devanni Partridge”. The day of the sign dedication and unveiling, a ceremony was organized complete with my friends, family, the Mayor and council members, many Miss Auburn board members, the Auburn Reporter, and local TV channel 21. I can still hardly believe it! Auburn is where I grew up and have always called home and for the city to show me that much support and encouragement is overwhelming! Thank you everyone who worked to put that together and were there that day to share in the exciting moment!
It is always fun to come to an appearance as Miss Washington, but sometimes it is just as fun to take off the crown, put on the jeans, grab some bobby pins and go to an appearance as a chaperone extraordinaire! My sweet friend Jackie Mendez, who happens to be Miss Pierce County this year had taken on the chaperone role for me a time or two this year, was gracious enough to let me come to see her perform at the Puyallup Fair as her body guard. What a blast! She blew my chaperone alias within the first 20 minutes of us getting there but it was still super fun to see her and Hailey perform on the Education Stage… and then on the hypnotist stage! I had no idea how good of a ballerina/river dancer/counter Jackie was! Hopefully someday there will be an encore performance :)
The homecoming party that the Miss Seattle and Miss Auburn group worked so hard to put together came just a few days later and was more wonderful than I could possibly describe. It was a blast to see people that I hadn’t seen since July and had been missing like crazy, also to see the people that I love and see on a more regular basis, and those who I haven’t seen in quite a long time! The decorations were beautiful and thank you Lona, Donna, Julie, Nancy, Lucky, and everyone else from my Miss Auburn family who helped! Also, all of the hugs and encouragement were so appreciated and very much needed and I heard that the food was absolutely delicious though I never ended up making it over to the table to eat any of it! Hehe not even the Sparkle Cake that my mom made at my request… I made up for it when I got home though and ate ALL of the leftovers :)
In addition to the fun and encouragement that came at the homecoming party, I received a GORGEOUS Ann Hand necklace and earrings from my Miss Seattle buddies. In addition to being excited about the beautiful jewelry for its dazzling elegance, when I was in Florida, I saw Miss America herself wearing the same design but in a ring and remember thinking how stunning it was. So now I have my own fabulous crown pieces that match Katie Stam’s!
One of my best friends in the entire world, Jackie “Devackie” Mendez, invited me to come and be a part of a special event that she worked so hard to plan that happened to be the same day as Spring Forum. It was a walk that raised money for Candlelighters, which helps children who are fighting cancer. That was the reason for my absence from the morning meetings in Renton :) So I was sad to miss part of the Fall Forum festivities but so happy to be able to support Jackie and hang out with her family, friends, and volunteers for a couple hours!
When I did make it back from Tacoma to Renton, it was sweet to be greeted by everyone from around the state who made the trip over for the fun filled weekend! I got to see everyone in a wonderful mood, with nice full tummy’s as I showed up right as the lunch break was finishing up. Perfect timing :) It was my first time coming to Fall Forum and I enjoyed it so much. My mom and I found a comfy place in the lobby of the hotel and were able to visit with everyone that passed by for the two or three hours between when the meetings finished and dinner started. It was a perfect time to chat, catch up, and just relax with friends! Dinner was just as wonderful and filled with great entertainment, thanks to Danielle Henry and her musical talent, and laughs, thanks to Carol and her Apple Awards!
That was the perfect way to spend the weekend before leaving for vacation…. To Hawaii!! That blog, complete with all of the great pictures and fun memories that Peggy, Mike and I made, will be here soon!
Answer: SHE WAS PLAYING BY EAR!!!!! Gosh that is funny :)
With lots and lots of love and laughter,
Devanni Partridge
Miss Washington 2009
