August 28, 2009
A month has passed since I found myself in another unforgettable moment when our daughter, Caryn was called to the stage to present me with my beautiful farewell roses.
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As I took my final walk as Ms. Senior Michigan 2008, I was overwhelmed with emotion, thinking briefly of the moment just one year earlier when I took my very first walk across that same stage, putting into motion one of the most incredible chapters in my life’s book.
Soon the announcement came we had all been waiting for; who had been chosen to be the new Queen? Within moments, my reign came to a close and I joined the prestigious roster of, “Past Queens,” as I crowned, Caren Maceyko, Ms. Senior Michigan 2009.
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She is a beautiful Queen, inside and out and her presentation was breath taking. I am so proud to be her Sister Queen for the next year and I’m sure she will bring the kind of elegance to the Ms. Senior Michigan Pageant that is the cornerstone of the Pageant’s Philosophy.
May this year bring exceptional and unexpected joy and happiness to you Caren, for no one deserves it more. You have bravely faced extraordinary challenges in recent times and I hope the rewards of this exciting year will bless you in ways you never could have imagined.
There will be more news about the Pageant, The Queens’ Committee which I chair and upcoming Queens Shows, but for the moment, my crown, my sash (and my high heels) are taking a much needed rest from an amazing journey.
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July 17, 2009
In just a few short days I will give my Farewell Speech, do my final, “Queen’s Walk,” and then midst the anticipation and the coronation song, the Pageant Director will announce the winner of the Ms. Senior Michigan 2009 Pageant. And just as the applause and excitement erupts, I will place the crown on the new Queen. Yet in spite of all the unleashed excitement , my heart will become quiet as my mind briefly revisits that same incredible moment when I was crowned exactly one year ago. It was a moment I will remember forever!
I thought perhaps you might like to read my Farewell Speech since many of you were unable to attend the Pageant this year because the tickets were all sold out – well in advance –so I decided to share it with you here.
“ I’m thinking I probably should have written something out for this important Farewell Speech, but I think when I was little and learned to talk,
the whole reading and writing thing was somehow overlooked, so I’ve spent most of my life just talking.
What an amazing, unforgettable year!
There were some moments that stood out from all the rest that I want to share with you, but first I want to thank a few people who made this year all that it was.
I can’t possibly thank everyone I would like to and if I tried, for sure I would miss some, but I do want to thank The Ms. Senior Michigan Board of directors for sponsoring my trip to the finals in
I especially want to thank Virginia Kohler and Shirley Stedman, Past
Our awesome Pageant Director, Francine, not only for her encouragement and support during the pageant but also at the finals –and throughout the entire year. She has always been there for me 100%.
I love you Francine and I’m so proud to be your friend!
My dear daughter, Caryn, for driving me to
Pampering me 24/7 the entire week, making sure I had my lip gloss on,
fixing the holes in my hair, keeping me on time and never leaving my side.
I was the only item on your agenda for a whole week and I loved every minute of it! Thank you honey!!
Now if I can share just a couple of my most memorable Queen Moments:
One day I was at a restaurant with my crown and sash on waiting for my little grand daughter to arrive. As always whenever there are children (especially little princesses) I stop and talk to them and often let them try on my crown and of course they love that.
Well, I had finished talking to some little girls and their mom at a table near the door where I was waiting, and all of a sudden the little boy at the table leaned over and quietly said to me, “Is there a King?”
Naturally I told him, “Of course there is a King. He is about 6’2” and
and his name is, “Terry,” and he takes really good care of me and he said, “Oh, OK.”
Just a couple of months ago I paid a “Queenly” visit to my grandson’s school. Andrew is in the first grade, so his teacher had all the little kids sitting in a circle and had a rocking chair reserved for me up in front. She told Andrew he could introduce me, so he came up, sat on my lap and proudly announced:
“This is my Grandma. She is Miss
Then he went over and got a chair, brought it right over beside my rocker and proceeded to try to answer not only every question I asked his classmates to engage them in the conversation –but the ones they wanted to ask me. This was his moment to shine and he was shining.
So I’m thinking I’ve been going by the wrong title this entire year.
What do you think?
And even though Francine said my reign is about over –and in just a few minutes we will indeed have a new Ms. Senior Michigan 2009, I want you to know that’s not entirely true because I have some proof that my reign in fact will “never” be over…
(Mary…can you please bring me the sign.)
This was prepared for me last year –
Also by Prince Andrew who proclaimed me Miss
So I have to believe he has his facts straight!
“You are always be my Queen.”
“You are a star in my eye!”
So, my reign will not end – I will indeed be a Queen forever.
In closing, I have chosen a song I wrote and recorded in memory of our daughter who was taken much too soon –four years ago. I want to dedicate these special final moments to her. And for those of you who have lost someone special in your life –I dedicate this song especially to you.
The song is entitled, Perfect Rest.”
With that, my final performance as the “Current Ms. Senior Michigan,” will end and I will take my final walk and then moments later I will place the crown on the new Ms. Senior Michigan 2009.
However, my role with the Ms. Senior Michigan Pageant will not end there as I will be the new Queen’s Sister throughout her reign, coming alongside her, mentoring her and assisting her in preparing for the Ms. Senior America Pageant and other events and activities.
In addition, I will be leading, The Queen’s Committee, a committee established by the Board to lend support to new queens and promote the pageant throughout the year.
Those of you who know me will clearly not be surprised that I have found a way to stay involved with this project. It’s simply in my DNA to do what I can to support the organizations I have become a part of.
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April 16, 2009