Life's Little Surprises

I was reminded twice today about the blind pleasure that comes from life's little surprises.

The first reminder started out sad.  After 3 years of partnership, my business partner is moving to the East Coast.  Bummer.  Meeting Michelle was a complete happen-stance.  My previous business partner and I had come into more work that either of us could handle ... so a search went out for someone that was reliable and capable to assist us.  My business partner's husband's busines partner had a sister that was available ... Michelle.

After the event was over my partner decided she couldn't keep working at that pace and quit.  I went completely into panic mode!  While I was wallowing in my panic, I was also putting together a running team for the World's Longest Relay ... and wouldn't you know it Michelle and her husband are runners!  So I invited them to run on my team and I spent most of my non-running/awake time worrying about what I was going to do for a business partner.  At the end of the race, Michelle said she was interested ... and so we began.

I can only say that she was a godsend and we balanced each other perfectly; our kids were close to the same age, our husbands were very much alike (traveling salesmen), we like to be active and generally saw the world very similarly.

So today, as I said "Happy Sabbatical" to her ... because she IS coming back ... I realized how the cogs on the wheel that is life lined up so perfectly for her to join my life.  They say everybody comes into your life, whether for a minute or a lifetime, for a reason.  I learned things, saw things differently, saw people differently and am better because I know her ... the sister of a friend's husband's business partner.

The second surprise has been in my life for about the same amount of time and it makes me fill with awe when I think about it and my involvement.  I'm talking about the Red Dress Party.  Some of you may have seen my pictures and brief descriptions of this event, but I don't think I've ever done it true justice.

Just over 3 years ago, I ran into two friends I hadn't seen in years.  They had, off-and-on, sent me invitations to a "Red Dress Party," but I didn't understand what it was, why I should buy tickets and I was sure I'd never get Tony into a red dress, so we hadn't attended and I'd lost touch with them.  But here they were, face-to-face with me asking me to help them organize a party.  "But I don't do parties," I said.  "Please," they said.  So I agreed.

The first year I was completely overwhelmed and barely raised my head to get the bigger picture.  But I helped coordinate logistics, we went, we had a blast, I said I'd do it again.

The next year, they asked me to become a Board Member.  I was blown away!  I was the first woman and first straight person to serve on the board ... I was thrilled and honored.  Now the realization of what was going on really began to sink in.

So now I tell you the story that has touched me so deeply and makes me proud and humbled to be involved in this wonderful event every day.

In 2001, on SuperBowl Sunday, 75 people crowded into the basement of a downtown home to party.  The only requirement?  Everybody had to wear a Red Dress.  The dresses part began because some of the women complained about how they were expected to dress in cocktail dresses in the middle of winter while the guys got to wear pants and long sleeves.  Somewhere along the line somebody decided the dresses had to be red.

By 2003, the party size had outgrown the basement, so they moved to a vacant grain silo and charged money for tickets.  It cost money to put on the event, but the organizers committed to giving all proceeds to local organizations that were helping people living with or affected by AIDS.  There were 325 guests.

Here we are in 2010, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the party.  It has become THE party in Portland, each year selling out at 2,000 tickets (frankly, we can't handle a crowd bigger than that) and has donated more than $158,000 to local charities. 

The Board has been awarded the Purely For Love award by Portland Monthly magazine because everybody associated with the event is a volunteer.  Nobody, with the exception of the entertainment at the party, gets paid for their work.  We have literally 1,000s of volunteer hours that go into every party and a volunteer workforce of 100s that help us get it all done.

To pull this off takes not just volunteers, but givers.  Our state's liquor laws require that we have 3 hot and 3 cold food items availabe for all attendees all night (that's from 7:00p to 4:00a for those of you that care).  Local restaurants, bakeries and caterers give food so the party can go on.  Local and National breweries and distilleries give the alcohol, beer and wine that keep the party going.  And many of our talent performs for free, or donates their fee back to us.

Often we're asked, why shouldn't I just give my money directly to the beneficiaries?  The organizations that receive the money say it means more to them than twice the amount from a grant.  Why?  Because the Red Dress Party gives with no strings attached.  They don't have to earmark our money for a specific program.  When they get the money it's for any need.  And in these financially trying times, there is a lot of need.

All this is so wonderful ... but here's where it gets really special; this little basement party has grown to a National event.  This year Seattle, Las Vegas, Chicago and Hawaii will also host parties.  And next year San Diego is going to host their first Red Dress Party.  WOW!  Every year we have representatives from several cities across the country attend and contact us about starting a party in their area.  Double-WOW! 

The dedication, focus, foresight, love, passion and enthusiasm for this event overwhelms me.  Working with these people (the board, the volunteers, the attendees) I have seen love and acceptance like I never knew existed in a community and my fellow board members are easily listed amongst my best friends.

Attendees include gays, lesbians, bi-sexual, transgenders and straights. When I meet someone I don't care which they are and they don't xare which I am ... because just like being at a nudist camp, everybody's equal.  We have a bond, we're Red Dress Partiers!  Even Tony.