Luncheon Chez Gina

In order to welcome Pamela Yang back to Taipei, seven golden ladies enjoyed the second reading gathering in March this afternoon. In stead of reading three articles of Toastmaster Monthly as usual, we read three books, "Eat with(in) Nature" by Huei-wen Chen; "Identical Strangers" by Elyse Schein + Paula Berstein; "Pretty Little Mistakes: A Do-Over Novel" by Heather McElhatton.

The hostess of our reading gathering is Toastmaster Gina Cheng from Grand Toastmasters Club. Gina is an old friend of mine, six years younger than I am. We both went to the same college, majored in Pharmacy, studied French in France, joined Grand Toastmasters Club long time ago. Gina enjoys cooking and inviting friends to her lovely and cozy place to savor her newly developed recipes, from starter to desserts.

Pamela didn't arrive with empty hands. She brought a dozen of colorful cashmere scarves for each one of us as a gift from Shanghai. She also brought grapes and ice coffee freshly dripped by a famous cafe' in her neighborhood. I was touched by her warm and kind heart, even she just joined golden ladies a few months ago.

Irene arrived with a big bowl of egg salad. She steamed potato and carrot first and boiled them at last, added chopped apples to make the egg salad a special sweet and crunchy flavor and taste. Amy brought a huge bag of guavas and wax apples. Kate and Gina Fu brought desserts. My green salad with bean burd was unique with mountain celery freshly picked up from the hills along Hsin-tien River this morning.

After sumptuous luncheon, we began our reading. Eat with(in) Nature by Huei-wen Chen was recommended by Pamela. Pamela didn't only give each golden lady a copy as a gift with the author's signature, but she is also working on the project to take golden ladies to meet with the author on her organic farm in San-chi. "Identical Strangers" by Elyse Schein + Paula Berstein and "Pretty Little Mistakes: A Do-Over Novel" by Heather McElhatton were recommended by my humble self.

Identical Strangers is about the issue of nature and nurture. I chose the book, because of my brother. He is hospitalized at the moment with his schizophrenia, a genetic disorder. After I shared my brother's story in tears, every golden lady took turns sharing their touching stories with eyes flooded with tears. Finally Amy woke us up and asked us to look at the bright side of life. We broke into laughter together and acknowledged how fortunate we were to be able to read, to write, and to share with good toastmasters friends!

Pretty Little Mistakes is a fun book to play with. Remember "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost? But, this novel by Heather McElhatton is different, it is a surreal life game you can "Do-Over" again and again. The book opens with a female second person's high school graduation, which leads "you" to two possible choices: travel or college. Each succeeding section similarly offers two options for proceeding, leading to an array of developments, and ending with 150 sorts of death and reincarnation.

Six of seven golden ladies played the game, with seven different endings (Gina Cheng did over her life once). Amy Chen of China Toastmasters Club refused to play the absurd life game. At last, Pamela threw an intriguing question, "what would you choose, to live in a confined happy space or an open troublesome space?" Most ladies didn't hesitate to take the challenges in the big wild world, except Kate and I settled for our happy love nests.

Before 1PM, we arrived at Gina's place, we didn't leave until after 6PM. It was a fruitful, entertaining, educational luncheon chez Gina. Thanks Gina, for your hospitality and mouth-watering dishes. Best wishes with your success in publishing your recipes soon in the future.

Murphy's Law

I never had a slice of bread,
Particularly large and wide,
That did not fall upon the floor,
And always on the buttered side.

At Area H1 Speech Contest this afternoon, I became the victim of Murphy's Law, "anything that could go wrong went wrong"!

Being one of the four prepared speech contestants, luckily I was the only contestant without the speech title on the contest agenda. Why me? I sent the speech title timely and accordingly. I thought it was extremely important to print down my speech title to let the Chinese audience know two foreign names "Don Quixote" and "Sancho Panza"! And, there was Murphy's law, anything that could go wrong went wrong! I didn't have a speech title!

At a quarter to 2PM, I was informed to be the first contestant to deliver my speech after the draw of orders. Yes, please call me No. 1, because I was eager to deliver my best ever speech to the audience with audiovisual effects, powerpoint presentation and music arrangement; I was eager to tell a story with a dynamic show in five to seven minutes to inspire the audience; and I believed that everything would be in place, exactly like the good rundown rehearsal two days ago.

But, the sound track helper didn't show up when the speech contest was about to be called to order and the powerpoint presentation helper forgot the rundown sheet in her office! Why me? I spent so many hours working on the contents, delivery, and costume. A speech was more than a speech after I put my life in it! Voila, there was Murphy's law, anything that could go wrong went wrong! No audiovisual effects!

I gave up delivering my speech at the last minute of the Area H1 speech contest to many people's surprise. Many toastmasters thought I might as well deliver an impromptu speech without the visual aids. I should take the challenge no matter what happened! Yes, everyone was right! What could I say? Everybody would still be interested in 2009 spring fashion show without the music and images, except the supermodel who was the only person to be responsible for not bewaring of the Murphy's law.

Even if everything went wrong to my disadvantage, it would not be the end of the world. At the most, it was but an impossible dream. If I could think positively, I would say I was happy that I got the chance to reflect upon the cause and effect and learned a good lesson. After joining toastmasters for 23 years, it was the first time I gave up a speech at a speech contest at the last minute. I'm sure it would not happen again! If it was not a good lesson, then what it would be?

To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

PS: In the past month, Sophia Chen mentioned that I reminded her of Orlando every time she helped me rehearse my speech. After I changed my hairstyle, from womanly long hair to super short punky hair, I became reincarnated Orlando of Virginia Woolf to her. This evening I felt "Don Quixote de la Mancha" transcending the borders of time and space to comfort me and told me his chivalric dream in person. I was moved in tears!

Toastmaster Magazine Reading Gathering in March

March is a busy month for most golden ladies, with a lot of sightseeing, examination, and business activities. Only three golden ladies, Irene, Linda and I, showed up in green (the dress code of the month) for Toastmaster magazine reading gathering in March this afternoon, along with three lovely guests, Amy Chen from China Toastmaster Club, Sophia Chen from Grand Toastmaster Club and Sophia's elder sister Belinda.

Amy Chen is an old friend of mine in Toastmasters. She called me two weeks ago that she would give away one of her beloved fashion hats to me. She said the hat would look better on me. When I proposed that she came join our Toastmaster gathering with the sweet gift, Amy gave her consent cheerfully. I've been wondering what kind of hat I would inherit from the hat queen with excitement and anticipation since.

Amy arrived at the lunch gathering at twelve o'clock with a sexy black hat adorned with many dazzling Swarovski crystals on top. The moment I put the hat on, I could see the big shining and admiring eyes of Linda, Irene and Amy. Wow, Linda grabbed the camera on the table and took a snapshot of me and the bling bling hat at once!

Sophia and Belinda joined us at 12:30. They just finished their morning makeup assignment at a photo studio for an online clothes company. Sophia looked extremely excited because she just got a second-handed Canon digital single-lens reflex camera from the owner of the photo studio. She was pleased with the price and quality of the newly acquired gadget in hand, and was eager to document every minute of golden ladies Toastmaster magazine reading gathering in March.

From 12:30 till 2:30, we kept exchanges opinions for two hours non-stop about three articles Linda assigned, including,
1. "Give the Gift of Listening—Hear the story of a lifetime" by Patrick Mott, Page 14;
2. "Leading by a Tale—How to put storytelling to work in your organization" by Caren Neile, Ph.D, ATMS/CL, Page 16;
3. "All in the Name—safeguarding the Toastmasters Brand", by Tammy A. Miller, DTM, PID.

In addition, we also touched upon two additional articles,
1. "The Art of Bragging" by John Spaith, ACS;
2. "Speak Up!—A hearing-impaired Toastmaster offers practicle advice" by Rick Moore, ATMB.

Many thanks go to Amy, Sophia, Belinda for their active participation in the March reading gathering this afternoon. As much as golden ladies inspired our lovely guests (as they said), the visitors also contributed many insightful perspectives and valuable experiences to golden ladies reciprocally.

Together we make effective communication a worldwide reality (a former Toastmasters tag line).

Don Quixote & Sancho Panza

I did not only read Toastmaster Magazine February 2009 from cover to cover, but I also internalized the whole magazine as if I would be given a chance to lecture on each article at the most prestigious university in Taiwan.

Every month I look forward to receiving the toastmaster magazine in my mail box. Everytime, I open the magazine, I feel much inspired by the authors. It is like that the magazine is edited and pusblished for my eyes and it arrives at my desk just-in-time. What a serendipity it is!

Take the February issue for example, after reading "Give the Gift of Listening" by Patrick Mott and "Leading by a Tale" by Caren Neile, I rewrote my prepared speech for the upcoming Area H1 Speech Contest. My speech is about the story of the impossible dream of Don Quixote. I'm thinking twice how to create more indelible images in the hearts and minds of the audience and how to do it better.

Don Quixote & Sancho Panza ~~to tell a story with visual aids~~ 5-7 minutes

Act I (0'0"-2'30") Opening
Slide 1 (30 seconds), once upon a time, 500 years ago, to be exact, there lived Don Quixote in a small village in Spain. He was a retired country gentleman in his fifties. ** He became obsessed with books of chivalric romance, and decided to become a knight. Everybody in the world now, young or old, knows the story about the fight between Don Quixote and the windmill.

Slide 2 (30 seconds), many young and pretty girls have a dream, to become a supermodel. I'm in my 50's, 55 to be exact. **I became obsessed with books of fashion after I became a full-time housewife. I believe I can also become a supermodel, despite the fact that it is to many a dream clearly impossible. Young, me? No more! Pretty, me? Not really, in the eyes of the beholders!

Slide 3 (30 seconds), ** Don Quixote was lucky to have a good neighbor Sancho Panza as his friend who stood by him and gave him the courage and confidence to move on with his impossible dream *** to fight the foe, to protect the weak.

Theme music on, "The Impossible Dream From Man of LaMancha", Lyrics by Joe Darionde

Slide 4 (30 seconds), sing with action, "to dream the impossible dream; to fight the unbeatable foe; **to bear with unbearable sorrow; to reach the unreachable star!"

Act II (2'30"-5'30") Body
Slide 5 (one minute), **I was lucky to have a good toastmaster member Sophia Chen to give me the courage and confidence to dream as a supermodel. Last March Sophia Chen joined Grand Toastmasters Club as a new member. She was a well-known makeup artist in the fashion field. When I told Sophia about my supermodel dream, she looked at me with a smile. "Yes, Sherry you can make it. You shine and beam like a supermodel."

Slide 6 (one minute), Last Christmas, Sophia invited me to be her model for her designer's hats for United Daily News. I was so thrilled that I wore a facial mask overnight on Christmas Eve, hoping I would look 20 year younger on Christmas morning. But the moment the editor-in-chief saw me, she ruthlessly challenged Sophia about bringing a housewife to ruin her editor's career. She needed a supermodel, not a supermother from the supermarket. But I didn't want to give up and Sophia made magic. **The supermother was on the newspapers with Sophia's hats, covering one quarter of the full page.

Slide 7 & 8 (one minute), Sophia didn't stop there, she arranged her photographer partner to take **calendar girl photos of me on December 31st, 2008. We carried 20 outfits in 4 huge suitcases to the photo studio. Sophia made me one step closer to a supermodel on the catwalk in Paris.

Act III (5'30"-7'00") Conclusion
Slide 9 (30 seconds), **Actions speak louder than words. *** Now I shall bring the catwalk in Paris to the speech contest venue. Open your eyes to 2009 spring fashion show.

Runway music on, "You're my Flower" by Wubai

Slide 10 (30 seconds), without Sancho Panza, there would not have been Don Quixote. I'm grateful for Sophia Chen for her encouragement and investment in me to help me realize my ** supermodel dream. Do you have Sancho Panza around you? Fellow Toastmasters, look at people around us, let's thank them for supporting us, encouraging us, investing in us and being part of our impossible dreams!

Remarks:
** signs to show the slide.
*** signs to play the music.

First Runner-up

At five o'clock in the afternoon, I was still working on my prepared speech. It's a monologue featuring Don Quixote with his impossible dream 500 years ago and me with my impossible dream at present. It is about my dream of being a supermodel dressing in bikinis on the catwalk in Paris at the end of 2009.

Before seven in the morning, my husband woke me up and I jumped out of bed instantly. It was the first time for me to see the cherry blossom of Yoshinozakura at Ten-yuan Taoist Temple in Tamsui. I was excited! Trini Ding from China Toastmasters Club drove us me from Shilin to Tenyuan Temple. It was nine thirty when we saw the huge five stories tower surrounded with big cheery trees in full bloom.

Trini brought a huge box of fresh fruits and Sophia Chen from Grand Toastmasters Club brought the black tea, we were lucky to find a pleasant place eating, chatting, laughing and taking photos under the cherry treeson on such a great sunny morning. I forgot about my speech, I forgot about Don Quixote!

I was the second to arrive at Grand Toastmasters Club's meeting venue, five forty-five to be exact. Sophia arrived earlier to help me rehearse my monologue with the set, prop, and lighting at the lobby. I tried on three wigs to choose the best one for the first act. There are three acts in the monologue of seven minutes. First Act, I daydreamt about being a supermodel; Second Act, I fought in the field to become a supermodel; Third Act, I attempted to reach the unreachable star with my last ounce of courage.

I'm grateful to many members who helped me upon my last minute request. Helen Lin helped me with the powerpoint & music; Sophia Chen with costume, hair, and stage; Oscar Lien with the lighting. Thank you all for helping me place the 1st runner-up at Grand's in-house speech contest.

And now I'm all ready to compete at Area H1 speech contest Saturday, March 21st. It'll be another magnificent interpretation of the impossible dream of Don Quixohe de la Mancha of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra in 1605. Come see me in my supermodel spring fashion of 2009!

To dream ... the impossible dream ...
To fight ... the unbeatable foe ...
To bear ... with unbearable sorrow ...
...
To reach ... the unreachable star ...

Like a Champion

I enjoy reading. And I have a dream that all golden ladies toastmasters enjoy reading as much as I do. Among us, reading monthly Toastmaster magazine in English is a pleasant pass time for all, but writing a feedback in English is another story.

Being senior toastmasters, some golden ladies take writing in English a threat. Maybe they have high expectations of themselves. They wish they could write like Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, JK Rowling. Me, on the contrary, I don't mind making mistakes, I don't mind writing in Chinglish. I'm not a native speaker of English, anyway. But the more I attemp writing in English, the more I enjoy writing, reading, thinking, speaking, acting in my acquired language--English.

Our mind is a fountain of thoughts. As soon as we turn on the faucet, the water flows in the pipeline and produces beautiful splash in the air. In the sun, we see our thoughts turn into colorful rainbow droplets. At night, our thoughts dance with neon lights. While our thoughts transform into love stories on papers, they touch upon others. We write, therefore our thoughts perpetuate.

District 67 tabletopics and speech contests 2009 will soon be held in Kao-hsiung in April. As usual, I jump at every chance to hone my communication skills in English in public. Hopefully I can excel at the Grand Toastmasters Club's in-house speech contest tomorrow evening, succeed at the following area and division speech contests, and make it to the district level eventually. I'd love to have golden ladies as rivals as well as my cheerleaders.

It's been full of excitements for me to prepare for district 67 speech contest for the past few months, finding the right speech topic, designing the proper costume and stage, selecting the impressive music and props. Now I'm all ready to share the fruit of my thoughts in the most theatrical way like a champion of my own.