Home Sweet Home…
I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving! I certainly did. It’s not often I have the opportunity to go home for seven straight days and spend time with my amazing family. Sometimes I just wish I could move them up to NYC so they would be closer! I was happy to fly to Charlotte to meet my best friend Ashley. Being that we don’t get to spend a lot of time together, I thought I would accompany her for the 6 hour car ride to Opelika to catch up. Her Birthday was Wednesday so it was great to see her and our other besties, Ali, to celebrate Ashley’s turning 24. I can’t believe i’m next!
Thanksgiving was filled with tons of family. I’m lucky enough that my parent’s families all come together to celebrate holiday occasions….all TWENTY of us! I was especially excited to see my twin cousins Sydni and Maddi. It’s been about two years since the last time we were together and they are so GROWN UP! It’s crazy. We have always said they look like little mini-me’s, so we had fun with a little photo shoot! I loved being around them for a couple of days…. ahhhh pre-teens.
Previous to my trip, Deana (my booking manager) and I had been in contact with the National Child Advocacy Center in Huntsville, AL. Huntsville is about a four hour drive from my hometown of Opelika, so Friday around 7:00 am, my mom and I hopped in the car and took a day trip. The NCAC was closed, but I was fortunate enough to receive a private tour from the Executive Director, Mr. Chris Newlin and the Director of Development, Ms. Catherine Hereford. The NCAC facility is beautiful and our meeting went exceptionally well. We discussed ways for me to partner with them as a National ‘model’ for advocacy centers everywhere. I am hopeful that I will be able to attend their Symposium this coming spring! In addition, they put me in contact with Erin Merryn and Margaret Hoelzer, both women who are championing for Child Sexual Abuse. In that same day, I had a phone meeting with former Miss America, Marilyn Van Derbur. We had a long discussion about the best way to reach our target audience and educate Americans on CSA. She was so kind and I am so thankful for her taking the time to speak with me. What an honor! It was a big day for my platform!
Friday night I was so happy to go to my high school alma mater’s football game! Opelika has always had a dynamite football team and this was the Round 3 game of the Alabama state playoff rounds! They played our biggest rival, Auburn High and WON! I will admit, though, that I really went to watch the Spirit of the South Showstoppers (the Kickline I was on through school). They performed an awesome half-time show!
The rest of my trip I spent with talent rehearsal, college football and shopping! We took advantage of some of the left-over Black Friday deals and tried to get some inspiration for my Miss America wardrobe. My mom and Jaime got some dresses to wear in Las Vegas! It’s SO close! I was also happy to hang out with some of my dearest high school friends, John Mark and Hunter, to catch up. I missed them! In addition, I got some much needed interview prep in… thanks to a very passionate round-table discussion with my family. Whew, politics!
I’ll have to admit, I was a bit sad to leave. BUT….also ready to get this Miss America show on the road! Ya feel me?
Later Gators,
M