"Put on your Sunday best kids, we're going to Sears!"

I did feel a little Brady excited as I was getting ready to attend the gala where the NCTC was going to acknowledge us as recipients of the grant for our Lego League team. The NCTC grant is the only reason we were able to build our team, so since we were invited to attend their annual gala, we graciously accepted for a fun evening out (they also sponsored our $100 seats, otherwise we would have waved from the hall).

So what do you wear to a gala? Can you go without stockings? Do I need to go rent some diamonds? After consulting my underage fashion team, we made do, and headed to Blacksburg. Now, by "we", I don't mean me and my spouse. That would have been too easy. (Thanks Carol for indulging me and coming along!) Of course, both of us had to get sitters because Jack was out of town and Chris was on call, making this no easy night out. But we walked the red carpet, ate our fancy schmancy meal, heard the "rapping professor," stood for our award acknowledgment, stumbled through memory lane as I said hello to a high school friend, and came home. Isn't that why we love the 'burg? There is always someone from our past lurking behind the next tree reminding us of days long since past, but still clear as can be.

So make-up on, fancy dress off the hanger, and a purse too small to carry snacks or wipes, I had a great evening. The only thing that would have made it better was if there had been an escalator to ride on.