I have a story to share, and it's a confession. A revealing and embarrassing moment I had one day while running an event that I managed to weave together ever so delicately. It was very unexpected, yet done out of necessity! Then I want to hear from you about your event confession. No story is too small! You can either leave your story in the comments or email me at eventssimplifieddr@gmail.com. You can also choose to remain anonymous. I promise I won't judge!
I went to work one day about 6 or 7 months ago. I was running a program for some attorneys that day. There were going to be about 40 clients in the building attending a continuing legal education event.
I setup my registration table and checked in with the person that was helping me that day. I went over what I needed from her and as I turned she said to me, "Danielle... wow!!! I didn't know it was that kind of party!"
I looked back and said, "What are you talking about?" She said, "Your skirt." I looked down at the back of my skirt it was torn up the slit.
Rewind back to the morning... I was trying to get ready to leave the house. It was early. I was attempting to avoid waking Gardner, my 4 month old at the time. (He was still waking up 4-5 times at night.)
I realized that I hadn't printed my parking pass, so I sent it from my phone to my printer. I ran towards the gated office to grab it and leaped over the baby gate. I heard the tear in my skirt but thought... "It's fine. I don't have time to change. I'm sure I can make it through the day." I made it through all of 90 minutes at work before someone realized.
It was worse than I thought.
I went to my colleague Cindy's office and asked for a needle and thread. Of course she had that... she always has stuff that saves my life.
I went to my office, closed the door, and tried to assess the damage. IT WAS BAD!!
If I couldn't fix this then I couldn't be around clients all day without being self-conscious and possibly flashing everyone!! Not the professional look I was going for. Not seeing clients also wasn't an option.
I called the only person that I knew could help me. My mother in-law, Becky. I called her via FaceTime that way I had a video stream. She answered... Thank GOD!
The words poured out, "Mrs. Becky I need your help. I tore my skirt this morning leaping over the baby gate and thought it was fine. It's not. I have clients in the building today. I can't walk around flashing them, so you have to teach me how to sew well enough right now so I can get through the day!"
Laughter... laughter... and more laughter.
"I'm sorry sugar. I don't mean to laugh," more laughter. "That might be the funniest thing I've heard."
She was amused.
I was distraught, but then I appreciated the humor. I was keeping my cool as long as she could help me fix my skirt.
"Ok," she said. "Take off the skirt and turn it inside out."
She walked me through how to sew my skirt up.
It worked!
I put it back on and the giant slit was closed.
I thanked her and asked her to look at it when I got home. Of course, she agreed, and continued to laugh. We hung up.
Upon further review at home, I had done a good job sewing up the skirt. Still, she touched it up for me anyway.
No task is ever too small and I find that I learn things on the job everyday. Even if the skills are sometimes unrelated to event planning they are sometimes the skills that can save your life! Thanks to Sue for alerting me to my torn skirt, Cindy for the needle and thread, and my mother-in-law, Mrs. Becky, for giving sewing lessons via FaceTime.