Did you notice that Nashville was a popular destination for bloggers this weekend?
If you Twitter (like I do now!) then it was kinda tough to miss.
I wasn’t among the lucky ones to attend Blissdom. But you can bet I’ve got it on my radar for next year.
I have been to Nashville though. I lived there, in fact, for a few months in 1999.
But rather than bore you with the details of that short-lived adventure I thought I’d share another, way more exciting Nashville story.
Because, you know, I’m full of ‘em.
So this one in particular came about in 2000. Ladies Home Journal had partnered with Kmart and the Judds (as in Naomi and Wynonna) to sponsor the Power to Change contest. They asked women to send in a short essay (300 words I think) detailing an event in her life that served as a catalyst for change. Cassidy had just made her debut in our lives, surprising me with the Down syndrome diagnosis. The innumerable ways in which that single event changed me provided precisely the inspiration I needed to write an essay that garnered the attention of the Judds (who were the official judges) and earned me one of ten grand prizes: a $5,000 Kmart cash card and a trip to Nashville to be wined and dined by Naomi and Wynonna.
We were put up in Nashville’s infamous Opryland Hotel where my semi-celebrity status included all the room service I could eat. I’m sort of food-centric so this portion of my prize totally impressed me. Of course an itimate dinner and private concet with the Judds (and the other nine winners and their guests) trumped even the free room service. Other highlights of the weekend included a makeover and photo shoot, being recognized by the Judds during their final farewell tour concert, and the presentation of our gift cards.
It was all pretty cool.
Equally cool? Hanging out in a restricted area of the Opryland waiting for a bus and meeting Garth. Brooks. Uh-huh. Mr. Brooks himself. And “meeting” might not be an acccurate term exactly. But I can dream. He came in the back entrance of the hotel with an ‘associate’ on either side of him. I was sitting next to the husband of one of the other winners and both of us looked up at exactly the right time. Apparently Garth was accustomed to leaving people dumbfounded because to my dropped jaw he responded with a confident tip of his hat and a gentelmanly “how ya doin’?”. I happen to be a huge Garth fan so suffice it to say that I floated my way onto the bus that evening.
The weekend as a whole left me starstruck, spoiled and exhausted.
So…to the Blissdom attendees, all I have to say is: top that. :)
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like quite the trip! I guess being a semi-celebrity agrees with you. :o)
And how cool to win a contest like that!
So, what did you use the gift card for?
Well, look at you…I think this story tops my Emeril run-in. I’m with Wendy – what’d you get with that awesome gift card?
That is an awesome story! And I think it TOTALLY tops Blissdom! And it also makes me wonder what other amazing stories you have in your repertoire….
Ahhh… I love a good story. Congrats on writing what I am sure was an awesome essay and congrats on the BIG WIN!!!! You should share it sometime. =)
LOL! I love it! What a fabulous honor and treat for you! It sounds like a wonderful time!!!! Like you I hope to make it to the blog convention next year. Maybe we will meet! :)
That is awesome! I’d love to read what you wrote in that essay that won you the big prize. I’m sure it is inspiring.
Very cool! And I agree with Julie, I’d love to read what you wrote!
That one is pretty tough to top! Look at you — hangin’ with the Judds — and Garth Brooks. Wow! (And yeah, I want to see the essay, too!)
Saw you at The Roost and wanted to say HI. I love Nashville! My brother lives there. This sounds like a great time. A favorite song of hers is Flys on the butter!
Hey… look who won the Longaberger purse over at Inmates today.
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
10
Timestamp: 2009-02-09 20:09:53 UTC
In case you don’t remember who Commenter #10 was, I’ll let you know.
IT WAS YOU!!!! Congrats Girl. Send me your mailing info and I’ll send some Longaberger lovin’ your way =)
That is awesome! I would so love to see Garth up close! I love Wynona and Naomi!
From that picture it’s easy to see why your cousin had a particular nickname for you. Hmm-now what was it?
Something about a flyin’ elephant I think!
I remember when you won the contest Darc!!! Always so proud of you. Enjoying your blogs. Thanks for turning me onto them!
Love the story! And I especially love how you got there! That is so cool! I hope that your week is going well!!
Are you still holding your celebrity status at the grocery store?
Mmmm girl. I cant top that. Although, you’ll have to read some of the blog posts about the little private concert from two members of the Yanni Voices project. Pretty aesthetically pleasing for some, but I’m a Garth girl too!
Wow – Darcie! How exactly does one not only win the Judds’ contest, but then go on to win the inaugural Disney Moms Panelists contest?!! Wait…I know the answer to that. It’s the same reason you keep me comin’ back for more to your blog! You’ve got quite the talent there girlie! Keep it comin’!
And I would also love to read your contest essay for the Judds! :)
PS – forgot to say, nice spiral perm! Ha, ha! I’ve got quite a few of me looking the same way…LOL!
Oooh. That story is really hard to top. It may be unbeatable, in fact.
I would also have thoroughly enjoyed the free room service. That’s even better than eating out – especially if you have your kids along for the trip.
Do you enter contests often? I won a contest in 2007 that included a free trip to Santa Monica, a $1,000 shopping spree, and a makeover…which was very fun. But I haven’t entered many contests since…
Wow, Darcie, that’s so cool! I’m glad you had that experience and that it was all so wonderful. I think I’d have been all about the room service, too, since it’s one of those things that’s always a no-no thanks to the prices. I hope you win this next one!!
You my Dear Darcie have always been the coolest girl ever..and this story just verifies it more in my mind!!!
So So cool, I love the Judds and love that you had such a good time. Congratulations……….need to see more pics.