National Catholic Prayer Breakfast & Chesterton Gala
all in one day
This is a bit of a backtrack to February…
Let’s start with a fiasco the week before… it was Brian’s final all-staff meeting for Catholic Vote. In Florida. I was planning to go because Brian was going to give his “farewell” speech and I wanted to be there to support him, and we also had a surprise announcement for the CV team. But my flight, early in the morning, got delayed and delayed repeatedly throughout the day until it was clear I wasn’t going to make it at all for the dinner that night. All day long I walked through the airport, rather than sitting at the gate, as one delay came after another, finally running to try to get another flight - they put me on standby and I was top of the list, but alas, no spots. Finally I had to face the music and go home, terribly disappointed to miss the big night. I was starving after not eating all day and the emotional ups and downs, so I bought an enormous Italian sandwich with my stupid consolation prize food credit from the airline, and scarfed it on my way home. The kids were surprised to see me walk in the door, but I was glad to see them, and it’s always good to be home. Better luck next time. I had to hear about the whole thing later that night on the phone from Brian, which after all these years is the way I’m used to doing things.
I hadn’t been planning to go to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in DC the next week, but since the Florida trip had fallen through, I did. Another quick turnaround - flying in Thursday afternoon (so nervous my flight would be delayed again, but it wasn’t), and then a dinner Thursday night, reception, the super early breakfast, and a flight home Friday afternoon in time to get us to the Chesterton Gala that same night. Crazy.
Checking outfits the night before
At the reception Thursday night we ran into an old friend from our Ann Arbor days - we first met Josh and Melanie when they had one baby and we had three… what a long way we’ve come, now both us have large families and gray hair!
The beautiful Waldorf-Astoria lobby was all decked out for Cherry Blossom Season. During the Prayer Breakfast, I got a text that our flight home was canceled. Unbelievable! Fortunately, we were able to get on a different flight and make it home just in time to greet our houseguests - cousins John and Alice, and quickly get ready for the Chesterton Gala!
Cousin frenzy! We’re related to all these beautiful people.
The Gala showcases the Senior’s art, which never fails to impress.
The students also dance, which I would share if the boys would let me. They wore their tuxedos, the girls are all in long black gowns, and they show off their ballroom dancing skills. The best moment of the night was when the dance floor opened up to everyone and Sam and Ben both insisted that they dance with me first. I had to give Sam priority, as he is the senior, and then I was lucky enough to have another handsome son to dance with as Ben showed off his skills. Couldn’t be prouder of my gentlemen.
