A friend extended an invitation to the BCBG Holiday Fashion Show at the newly renovated Galleria Westin Hotel. The fete was festive with some fantastic Pomegrante Martinis (with peppermint frosted rims). Walking in, I was asked by the hostess if I would like her to create a business card for me to place in the holiday drawing. I wait (and LIVE) for these rare opportunities to drop in my ACTUAL professional business card, as I have only had one for a year. Thanking the hostess, I shared with her that I already had a business card that I could drop in the drawing myself upstairs.
Distracted by the delicious martinis or the mock Cirque de Soleil acrobats dangling on fabrics from the ceiling, I missed any sort of raffle table. So, after the fashion show, when they began to draw names for the drawing, I was instantly disappointed. How did I forget to put my business card in? Then --- I saw the beautiful black and white picture of the Rio Grande. The photograph was taken by James H. Evans, a natural photographer who is known specifically for his work in Texas. He was commissioned to do artwork for all of the rooms in the new Westin hotel. I wasn't just dissapointed, I was furious.
As the Manager of the Hotel began to draw the name, I was already scanning the crowd for the lucky winner and was stopped short when I heard "Haley Schul-...." Haley is rare enough but "Schul + a pause"? The photographer was clearly battling manners and efficiency.
"Haley! That's you! Go get it!" my friend urged. I began to slowly make my way to the stage to claim my new gorgeous photograph (without him ever finishing my last name) and to shake hands with the photographer.
Of course, my lucky "fake" business card will remain taped to the back of the photograph. It is one I will never lose.
