Thank you to all the volunteers and Americorps, for without you this event could've not happened! Thank you!
I'm so not the pageant type girl, but I told myself when I saw a opportunity for people with disabilities I MUST do it. I was hoping since I didn't have a college degree, that with Partners in Policymaking under my belt that would be a good time to try for Ms. Wheelchair Virginia. I also thought it would be a great way to meet new people. By the end of the weekend I realized my desire to socialize, might be the death of me. LOL!
I'm so glad I have this as a life experience now, but I wouldn't do it again for anything! My mind loved being challenged but my Cerebral Palsy couldn't take the anxiety. It took me a good two weeks to unwind! For that reason alone I was relieved to not be crowned Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2012.
The event was held at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center. I had been a CAD drafting student there 13 years before. To put it mildly, it was strange to be back on campus. I had many flashbacks. A few even stopped me in my tracks and alarmed my mother, “Ivy, what's wrong?” I found my anger towards the place had subsided a bit. After all I still had my friends and main squeeze in my life, all of which I had met at the center. My mother was hit by the same thought I had all those years ago, “Ivy, how did you stand this place?” We were only there two days and she saw IT. LOL!
I'm not sure if I had a hard time eating because it was the same institutional slop I had to force down for two years, or if was my nerves. I couldn't believe I was betraying a promise to myself and eating that again. At least there was another contestant there to 'bellyache' with about the food. Angela also had gone to WWRC. We just could not believe we were eating that mess again. LOL! I cracked myself up by thinking during the big, final, celebration for the newly crown WMVA that these girls might not be eating to fit into their gorgeous dresses and here I was I JUST COULDN'T EAT! I also found it amusing shoes give women so much pain, I don't even walk and my shoes I wore that night gave me sores! Yet one thing we women have in common is we love our shoes, no mater the level of uncomfortableness.
The time backstage with all the ladies was the best. I loved how that part was inclusive. All the Ms. So And So Counties where there to help the six of us. It was fun to sit back and watch those young ladies interact with the chaos that IS backstage. At one time two Little Misses were helping get things of the floor. They bent down at the same time and their tiaras clashed together. They just giggled. I thought it was the cutest thing. Even though we were glammed up too, it was a tad intimating to be surrounded by all that beauty. My thoughts, “This is so not my thing, I'm a surfer girl!”
I met some wonderful people. Jane, our coach awed my with her story of being stuck in an elevator during a blackout in NYC. What strength she has. I was impressed to hear she's slowly easing back into riding elevators. During our glam session before the stage event we ladies had a room with stations set up, hair, nails, wheelchair cleaning. It felt like that scene in The Wizard of Oz! My favorite part of the entire weekend was the facial station. It took me awhile to take in just how she got it done, but the woman giving us all facials was blind! It floored me! Of course she knew where exactly the tubes where laid out on the table, but I wanted to know how she wasn’t tripping over my chair? I noticed when she was doing the others, she was using her feet very carefully to mark to herself where our chairs where sitting. I let her knew how I impressed I was with her abilities. Last but not least I met Rose. Rose and Ivy. LOL! She had been Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2008. She is an older woman with CP similar to mine. She seemed to be tickled with me and told me a few times that I remind of herself at that age. Rose is a talker like me. I instantly connected with her. I hope to visit her soon without all my nerves from that weekend. Oh and Angela, who lives 15 minutes from me but it took an event in Fishersville VA for us to become friends. Life is a trip!
There were PT/OT students there to help us from JMU. They were a welcomed bunch as far as I was concerned. They helped me into my dress. I wish they were able to come back with us to the hotel room. We sure could've used the help. My mom is amazing. She is there for me. The other contestants seemed to have lots of help there. It was just mom for me, and physically it was extremely difficult, which is another reason why I would not do Ms. Wheelchair Virginia again. Fundraising was easy-peasy for me, so everybody knew this event was coming up. I also sent out a facebook event camouflaging the event as an excuse to relax in the mountains for a couple days. Still nobody came out to support my mother and I. Brian would've came but they made it sound like they just wanted friends and family there for the event on stage and the dinner.
My second favorite part of the weekend had nothing to do with Ms. Wheelchair Virginia. Terrible of me, I know. LOL! We visited my favorite record store, Crossroads and stocked up on yummy snacks at The Cheese Shop. If you are near Fishersville, Waynesborro, Stuarts Draft, look those up! My mom wanted to go on to visit the cherry blossoms that were in bloom in DC but I threw a fit. Sorry mom! I was such in a bad state, physically after the event I needed to go home.
I was thrilled and relieved Stephanie Copeland from Richmond VA was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2012! She and I quickly became friends. Angela who was announced Ms. Congeniality of the group, continues to make me laugh and smile and I'm so glad to call her a friend. All of the ladies I shared the stage with are incredible and have tremendous strength. I love them all!
Note: We had an interview with a panel of judges, create a life display board, answer two taylor-made questions from the judges on stage, and give a speech on stage.
Speech: Why the disabled community needs to bee more unified
I'll paraphrase the questions because I don't remember. Who in the disabled community would you like to met? Judith Heumann Told a little about her leading a sit in in the 60's for disability rights. What's your favorite musical instrument? Electric Guitar. I makes feel blah blah can't remember, but I did squeeze in babbling about my favorite band. Hahaha! My favorite guitarist is Mike McCready from Pearl Jam!
Facebook chat and well wishes: HERE
Professional photography done by The Highlander Studios: WEBSITE
A few Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2012 Program Pictures: HERE
Ms. Wheelchair Virginia 2012 is Stephanie Copeland: WEBSITE
mswheelchairva.com
americorps.gov
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