An amazing day

Today I went to the induction luncheon for the National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Fame. My longtime friend, Joyce Roach, was being inducted and I rejoiced for her. So many of us who've known each other for years came together to cheer for Joyce that the reception beforehand was a delight of visiting. Fran Vick's daughter-in-law and I were incensed that everyone else had wine and we didn't--supposedly young men were circulating with it, but we never saw them, so we went to the curtained corner from which they came and asked sweetly if they could get us wine. They did. Sat with Patt and Fred Erisman, my former boss June Koelker, and Ron Chrisman from UNT Press. That luncheon provides a feast in people watching, because the women's western outfits range from absolutely smashing to over the top and too much. The tables decorations, each apparently done by a different designer, were blow-your mind oppulent, and the place mats were made of real feathers. I kept speculating on whether or not they were reusable--I had this vision of ruffled feathers. Lunch was a good if different salad with spiced pears, greens, tomatoes, and blue cheese, followed by tenderloin with gravy, a lovely gratin of butternut squash with cranberries and what seemed like a chewy cheese layer on top, and a skewer of grilled vegetables. All very good, though dessert was hard to get to--a huge meringue cookie on top of lemon mousse. The meringue was so chewy you couldn't get through it to the mousse and I gave up.
Special awards were presented, and then this year's honorees, with a film history of each followed by their acceptance thanks. Joyce was, as always, eloquent and heart-warming with her account of her love for Texas and the western way of life. She's one of my role models, and this is a long overdue honor for her and her many accomplishments as a teacher, author, and folklorist--besides having grown up a cowgirl. I remember when she and I used to do a dog-and-pony show where she talked about being a fifth generation Texan and I followed with a talk titled, "Notes from an Outsider."
My memoir writing class met tonight and had perhaps one of the most delightful sessions we've had. Two people presented, and we laughed and laughed at their stories but also found the serious side and implications. That is such a great group, and they've developed a remarkable closeness. Tonight talk ranged from childbirth, a year in England, to a California childhood and cooking. What is wonderful is that mostly as these ladies look back on their lives and record them for their children, they find so much joy and laughter.
Ummmm. Tired.