I guess most of you heard about Miss Puerto Rico-Universe's claim that someone put pepper spray in her make-up and clothing for the recent Miss Universe or miss somethingornother! There are so many contests--who can keep up?! It's still being investigated. But there might be a chance it was faked! I am not a fan of these shows and seldom watch these kind of contests. I used to watch Miss America but haven't watched that in a long time.
My only experience of anything like that was with our annual high school selection of class beauties known as the Beauty Walk. The lady that was in charge of the Miss Alabama contest picked 25 seniors by their class pictures and a group of officers from the nearby air base picked eight girls from that group.
My senior pix.
I was sitting in one of my classes when an announcement was made over the intercom about who had been picked and the details of the big event. Well, it was a big event for a fairly small town. My last name started with a W and I almost missed hearing it mentioned because I wasn't paying close attention. I was half-way hoping I wouldn't hear it, I think, 'cause that meant walking across the stage in the auditorium all by your lonesome! The only time I'd been on the stage was in a group and getting up in front of people made my legs shake and my stomach turn into a knot! My best friend was also mentioned and she was excited. I think I was feeling more terror than excitement! I didn't care for the feeling of being scruitinized.
I went home with the news that I'd need an evening gown and my mother didn't waste any time starting to make a very pretty aqua strapless dress. It had 2 layers of material and I was happy with it when I tried it on.
My hair was fairly long and I wanted to wear it up, so that meant a trip to a beauty shop and over an hour in a chair on the verge of tears from the pain! I was what was called "tender headed"! It required lots of hairpins and hairspray! And patience!
My best friend and I talked about our dresses and then came the rehearsal which was kind of fun. The only advice I remember was to smile. A few of the girls had been in some pagents and were used to this. I wasn't and as the day approached, butterflies were growing! As well as pressure!
When I came out of my room in my dress my daddy whistled at me. Bless his heart. We went to the school and I went to join my classmates while my parents went to the auditorium. I quickly found my best friend and joined in the nervous chatter. Then it was time to start. First the beginning of the alphabet and slowly but surely they got to the end of it and it was my turn! One of the boys from our class was helping us climb the stairs to the stage and then up a small platform. We had to stand there for a minute while we were announced and I heard this loud intake of air which made me want to back up! I'm sure they did that to all the girls. The auditorium was filled with parents, teachers, family and friends who had watched most of us grow up and I think we all looked pretty grown up that night! I walked down some steps to the stage, holding a boy's hand and then I was on my own! I had to walk from the center of the stage to the left and then all the way across! I was almost to the other side when I realized that my smile was moving on its own and just as I was about to make my escape from the stage I heard a little kid down front say, "Her lips are moving!" Thanks kid!
We all went back to the same room and someone came and called out 11 names to go meet the judges! I was in the group and when we got in the room something remarkable happened. It was like someone had flipped a switch and one of the girls, Dottie. became very animated and started flirting with the guys who were doing the judging! Dottie was a blonde--a natural white blonde-- who'd been in other pagents. Her name was Dorothy but she was known as Dottie. I can still see her walking in the halls with her books on one hip--she was the queen of the sashay! I don't think it was by accident, either! She had the swishing of hips down pat! She seemed to be doing okay with flirting, too! What a surprise--she was picked as top beauty! My best friend was one of the 8 which made me happy for her. I was an also ran! heh
Was Dottie the prettiest girl in our class? No, but her self-confidence and obvious flirting had convinced the judges that she was! I also suspect they were bamboozled by her blonde hair! Of course, it wasn't unusual for girls to date the airmen so there is a possibility that she knew one of them. Fair? Not exactly. And this was a kinder time!
Wish you could be in Times Square watching the ball drop at midnight? Well, you can! Sort of. You can log onto:
The other night, our power went off for no good reason--no storm or wind, nothing! We got the radio and put the batteries in after finding the rechargeable light and decided to listen to the station that was playing Christmas music. Then we began playing guess the singer. The only one I was unsure about was "Santa Baby" but I'm pretty sure it was Eartha Kitt. Imagine her singing:
Marine Cpl Dustin Lee had watched his mom work with rescue dogs while growing up so it was no surprise that he decided to work with K9 dogs when he joined the Marines.
This used to be a special date. An anniversary of the day we picked to get married. It seems like November was the first choice and then we changed it.
My senior pix.
Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
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