At a Loss for Words

It doesn't happen very often, but I am at a total loss for words, at how to even begin to do Monday nights event justice.  The generosity of friends, family, colleagues and complete strangers has rendered me near speechless..

Where do I start? The entire day (just like the past three and half months of preparation) went seamlessly, it was as if I had an "All Areas Backstage, No hiccups pass" honestly I asked myself time and again how can something flow so smoothly... but it did.

I'm a great believer in being over prepared, over organized, it just makes things run more smoothly... and this was a classic case in point of that theory... or maybe it was just meant to be so there wasn't anything standing in my way.... which ever it was, I'm very grateful to have been so fortunate

“Luck is where preparation meets opportunity. ” ― Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture  

A while back I was getting all hung up on the idea of nobody showing up... but that proved to be totally unfounded and such a waste of energy, because by the time everybody had arrived on Monday night, Old St Michaels was nearly too full, it was nearly too busy... not a problem I had ever anticipated, and certainly not one I'm complaining about

I could rave on endlessly about how all the auction lots sold way above the reserve price I had set, or I could tell you how the auction alone raised nearly three times the amount I anticipated.  I could talk for hours about how my MC (the HC) did such an extraordinary job, the way he interacted with the guests, how he made them laugh, his ability to put me at ease before I took that first tentative step into public speaking, or how the words he spoke so kindly about me made me begin to wonder if it was me he was actually talking about........ But I won't bore you with any of that, but the following certainly can't go unspoken.

Myself and Jamie Fitzgerald (Inspiring Performance)

The only way to describe my guest speaker is... amazing...... He arrived early and he stayed late and after just ten minutes it felt more like I had a trusted friend on my team rather than somebody I had met only once.  His ability to talk to everybody in the room and make them feel included was inspiring in itself, his laugh infectious and his talk entertaining.... but more than anything his generosity totally unexpected, this is a person changing lives... Jamie Fitzgerald really is an Inspiring Performance.

I entitled this blog "At a Loss for Words" but as usual that doesn't appear to be the case... note to self, "Jacq you still talk way too much..." (don't see that changing anytime soon)

Below are just a few images of Monday nights Silent Auction...

Three of my lovely helpers, Al, Olivia and my beautiful daughter 

  

Colleagues, the lovely Carol, who was with me on that fateful day in May when this crazy journey took flight.

My handsome Dad, the man who hates his photo being taken, but I love this one of him.. Thanks to Roland for capturing a brilliant photo for me.

"Choppie", my friend of over twenty years and his gorgeous partner 

 Olivia, My mum and my amazing girl again.

 Me with the other amazing young woman in my life, where would I be without these girls...?

Me at the very start of my first attempt at public speaking, this  picture doesn't show just how terrified I was at this point. 

 Jamie right before it got crazy hot inside that small venue.





Myself and one of the loveliest friends a person could ever have the pleasure of having in their life.  Mrs J.

Amount raised by the Auction ALONE....... $5380:00

Kenya.... I'll see you soon.

Asante once again my friends.

xxx