Red Hat Ladies Queen of Our Hearts Pageant - January 21st 2009 the 5th annual Red Hat Ladies - Queen of our Hearts Pageant was held at the Sheldon Park Assisted Living residence in Eugene. County Commissioner Bill Fleenor served as Master of Ceremonies. Joelle Rankins Goodwin, Mrs. Oregon America 2009 opened the pageant by singing the National Anthem. There were 7 contestants vying for the title “Queen of Our Hearts” all from the Lane County area. There was a raffle and silent auction which raised nearly $300.00 for the American Heart Association and its “Go Red” Campaign. Queen Shelley of Cottage Grove was the winner pageant winner. Also in attendance were The “Men of the Long Tom Grange” calendar Chuck Cook “Mr. January 2007, Wade Skinner, Mr. February 2006, and Mrs. Brita Arcuri, Miss Oregon 2002. A great time was had by all; the pageant gets bigger and better each year.

THE DREADED SWIMSUIT COMPETITION?

We started the day at 7AM with our swimsuit photo. The photographers were fantastic and did a great job of making the ladies feel at ease in front of the camera, after taking our individual photos we gathered around the swimming pool for the customary pool shot with the class of 2008. As none of us felt like eating breakfast before getting into our swimsuits to have pictures taken we bolted for the breakfast bar. Here are a few photos of our time around the pool -

REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL - From 9:30 AM until 4:00 PM the key word was REHEARSAL. Yesterday by the time we quit rehearsing no one cared if we ever heard the count of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 again we all dreamed it last night, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.... today it was the tune of Gloria Estefan's "Party Time" over and over and over and over again! Know one had ever heard of the song before and by the time we leave here we hope we never have to hear it again. The majority of us rehearsed in "comfortable" shoes for most of the day and then put on our heels on occasion just to get used to wearing them on stage. Other hard charging ladies wore heels all day long (God Bless them), so following is my photo expose of the Mrs. United States Class of 2008 feet.

Tonight we look forward to our judges interviews and then in the morning more REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL, REHEARSAL.......

Junior Miss Black Oregon Pageant - I do believe that it was 1974, maybe 1975. It was my first beauty pageant, and my father encouraged me to enter, it wasn't a horrible experience, but I guess I was sad that I did not win, but I did get 2nd runner-up. I think this was held at the Sheraton Hotel in Portland near the Lloyd Center. Ah to be young again.........