I had intended to sleep in a little bit on Saturday morning. Well, my phone started ringing at 9:00 am.

First it was my mother. She called to tell me that she was very ill and wouldn't be able to make the ball. She didn't even sound like my mother. I wished her a speedy recovery, told her I would stay home and rest too, if I were ill, told her I loved her and hung up. Next it was my mother-in-law. She wanted to tell me about my mother. Then, she called back again to let me know there was a big estate sale going on 2 doors down from her and she saw some items that Laney and Tom may want for their new apartment. She had set adside $X for the kids to spend. Then my father-in-law called to tell me the same thing.

OK, I called Laney. She came over and Sam, Laney and I drove over to the estate sale. She did find a few items that she needed, a coffee table, kitchen table & chairs, and a few knick knacks that she felt were charming. She drove home again with her things, and Sam and I stayed to visit with my father-in-law and Erin, my furry buddy.

Fast forward to Noon. Sam and I left Dad's and raced home so Sam could get ready for his Saturday afternoon Tai Chi class. It really isn't good form for the teacher to be late. I chose to take a nap. Then the phone rang again. It was Sam's Dad. Did we know anyone who would like to take my parents' place at the ball? The tickets were already paid for, and it seemed a waste to have empty places. So, ok, made a few calls. Found a couple that was interested and available, called my father-in-law back and told him, then took that nap.

Up by 4 and starting to get ready. I decided to wear the gown I wore 2 years ago...if it still fit. If it didn't, I had a back-up. Sam helped me into teh gown and, would you believe it, it fit better than it had when I wore it 2 years ago!!!!!!!!!!! I was extatic.

The gown is a color somewhere between purple and burgandy, so I accessorized it with the pink pearls my grandmother had given me on my 16th birthday. Sam wore the suit he had worn when we got married and, as usual, looked AWESOME in it. He really does clean up well and I very much appreciate him in a suit. Off we went.

Everyone met up in the lobby of the hall. Introductions all around. A lot of people there, a lot of people coming up to us to say hi and ask how I'm doing. OK, leg started to tell me I needed to sit down, so I asked my father-in-law if we could go ahead and go into our table. He ushered all of us into the ball room and to our table, all the way in front. Well, I got my exersize for the day!

Starters were being passed by waiters and waitresses. Unfortunately, they were all shellfish. Sam went off and found me some lovely fruit, cheese and crackers. Have I mentioned that I am married to the most wonderful man on Earth? More people dropping by the table to say hi, etc. Then the oprogram started.

There are teh typical thank you's and little awards while dinner is being served. This year was a ceasar salad, followed by a beautiful chicken marsala, very tasty. Desert was chocolate cake with a chocolate ganache filling. After dinner came the "Grand Pramanade!"

It's a tradition at the Lincoln-Douglass. Everyone goes out to the lobby, pairs up, then processes in to the stage where they split, going to both sides, and are handed swords (the plastic pirate type swords, no live metal here), and they walk back down, rejoin as pairs, process back up, cross swords, everyone goes through, back around, drops off the swords and goes around 1 more time. The whole thing is rather silly, especially since the theme to Star Wars is being played the whole time, but then, if you can't dress up in suits and ball gowns and act silly, when can you? After the Grand Pramanade, we break into the Electric Slide! That too is a tradition.

Well, I skipped the Grand Pramanade. Our Priest, who is this tiny little black woman (remember, we are Episcopalian, so clergy can me either male of female), came and asked if she could borrow Sam for the pramanade. I said by all means! Sam is her favorite person to pick on. Probably has something to do with his father being the retired priest in residence (we also let our clergy marry and have families), his mother is on the vestry, and I am the director of Christian Education. Anyhow, off they went!

The electric slide over, the real dancing begins. It's fun just to people watch and I contented myself with that for a while. Sam (wh is, remember, the most wonderful husband on Earth), asked me if I wanted to give it a try. He promised he'd hold me up, so I didn't even need my cane. He's so sweet. We danced most of one song, then I wanted to sit back down. My right arm and leg were starting to do that burning thing that tells me I haave done too much in a day. We talked and people watched the rest of the evening and had a really good time!

Midnight and this Cinderella knew it was definitely "pumpkin time." Back home, into bed and out almost the second my head hit the pillow. I wish my mom and dad could have been there. We had a great time!!!