January 3, 2020 – I still have trouble wrapping my aged mind around the whole 2020 thing. It was time for the year’s first Mix party at the art museum. The party was advertised as an early start to Chinese New Year to celebrate the year ahead. Featured were projected fireworks, a dancing dragon, Asian-inspired cocktails, and lots of red decor to bring good fortune to all. Beijing-inspired works by contemporary Chinese artist Liu Wei and highlights from across CMA’s Asian collections along with beats (not my word, theirs) by DJ jondoetho1 were also a part of the event.
So let’s start with my outfit. I like the look of a long cardigan over a cute, short dress. NY&Co dresses are favorites of mine. They just suit me, fit me well and are cute. I picked this one up at a store closing sale. I like the blue with the black accent. I added the grey cardigan and the grey booties (thanks to my wife for these!) with blue tights. I knew I was going to be in this dress for a good ten hours, so comfort was very important. I also went with black nail polish, which I was pleased with. The nails also cleaned up surprisingly well, another plus.
Before the event itself, I spent a great deal of the day dressed and out, beginning with a meeting. I reached out to Dress for Success to get involved. This organization’s purpose is to offer long-lasting solutions that enable women to break the cycle of poverty. Dress for Success is part of a global movement for change, empowering women to obtain safer and better futures.
They provide each client with professional attire to secure employment, but are about much more than simply a new outfit. Besides physically equipping the client with apparel and accessories, programs furnish her with a confidence that she carries forever and the knowledge that she can actively define her life, the direction she takes and what success means to her. My goal with the meeting was to get involved in some fashion for many reasons. It’s a volunteer opportunity, to be done as Kandi, and to hopefully utilize my fashion sense to help others. I asked for a face-to-face meeting to make sure they understood who and what I am and that I would not make anyone uncomfortable.
The meeting went well! It looks like I’ll be a “personal shopper” (more like a style consultant) working with woman to assemble various outfits for an interview, or for work, etc. Plus they have one big fund raising event every year and I’ll get involved with that as well. I’m really looking forward to it.
After the meeting I did a bit of cosmetic shopping, which I always enjoy. Then I stopped at a local Applebee’s for my dinner. I took a seat at the bar when an obvious regular sat one seat down. The bar was initially crowded and then it thinned out leaving me and this gentleman. He was five years my senior and Lebanese. We started some chit chat and then it progressed to me telling him why the Indians should trade Lindor and how the Browns QB is a bust. It ended up we knew some of the same people. He was a Browns eternal optimist and I am a realist. I peed on his Cheerios a bit, but we had a very nice conversation. I asked for my check and bought him a beer on my way out, which he appreciated. We had a mutual acquaintance. He asked who he should tell this person I was (we hadn’t exchanged names and I certainly wouldn’t have given him my name) and I just laughed and told him (remember, I am in a dress) “someone”.
I headed over to the art museum and did some computer work for a while, including writing part of this post. When it was time to get to “work”, I saw a woman who was obviously looking for something. I asked if I could help, she was looking for a friend. Then she immediately said “Sweetheart, you look gorgeous!”. She squeezed my hand. Even now writing this, that brings and brought a few happy tears. I hugged her and thanked her for her kindness. I had a few other moments like that in the heat of battle during the evening. In my role as the first line of protection between people with beverages and the art galleries (liquids are prohibited from the galleries), I am often in a swarm of people, generally seeing almost everyone there for the evening (a few thousand people). I grew tired in the last hour of my three hour shift, from being out all day, but the evening was very enjoyable, filled with moments.
from Kandi's Land https://kandis328772669.wordpress.com/2020/01/08/mix-fortune/
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