My first prom night

Our special guest opening night of our annual wildlife art exhibition was more than I could ever possibly have dreamed for. It was our art society's 10th anniversary & the first opening night I had ever attended feeling so at peace & finally me. A night filled with wonderful friends, amazing art, in a superb location, immersed in creative energy. It is now billed as the biggest wildlife art exhibition in the world. I am not sure if that is true & personally I do not care. Size does not matter to me!lol

What matters to me are my friends. This night was a huge landmark if not quite the culmination of a what has become for me a very spiritual journey. Last night I was just little me, simply my true self. I have never felt more at peace in my entire life. I was a minuscule part of an incredibly joyous night for so many of my artistic friends & art/animal loving friends. Being able to just be accepted as me by dear long term friends who have stood by me & people I was meeting for the first time was heaven on earth.

.

I have never ever taken so much thought & effort to get ready to go any where like I did for this night. It was no surprise when I finished up running quite late. My Mum ended up loaning me a pretty necklace as I just could not find one that suited my outfit. I finally arrived only five minutes late. It was a surreal & poignant moment for me to be sat by the table which was to be the centre of activity for anyone of our guests who may be kind enough to purchase a painting some two hours later, filling & painting my nails a delicate shade of pink. Some years ago in another life at the same venue I had cheekily told my art chairman's wife who was resplendent in all her finery "you scrubbed up nice." I never dared dream that one day that comment may come back to haunt me. I did enjoy sharing a smile with her asking her all these years later "have I scrubbed up ok tonight?"

.

The event was attended by over 800 guests. It was opened by BBC wildlife photographer/presenter Simon King who was so lovely. I just had to have my photo taken with him. He cares passionately about wildlife & one of his favourites are cheetahs which I so enjoy painting. We had a band playing, Drinks flowing & everyone seemed to have a great time in spite on the good old British weather. Now if it had been a sun kissed summers evening with blue sky I would really have wondered if I had dreamt what felt like to me to be "my very first prom night".

.

I have finally arrived at a place I have never ever been at before in my entire life. I am finally me.

.

I have a life to look forward to & some truly wonderful friends. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world today.

.

I may write more soon but just wanted to post this as a memento of a night I will remember for the rest of my life.

.

Lots of love

A deliriously happy Debbie