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It was
Wonderful! There were more than 5000 hatters in attendance at the MGM
Grand Hotel. We were divided in half – purple track and red
track. All events were duplicated for the second track: Opening
ceremonies, PJ breakfast, tea, banquet & entertainment, and farewell
breakfast.
Four Crimson
Crones attended the convention: Bernita Wood, Clara Kries, Kathy
Brush and Queen Jill. All official activities were held
in the MGM Hotel Conference Center – approximately a 2-mile trek
round trip from our rooms. Many hatters had a hard time with all the
walking to get to the different events. Because of Bernita’s
hips and my back, we both rented scooters. It was lifesaving AND
fun.
Bernita,
Clara, and Kathy had signed up for extra events on Saturday and
Sunday before the official opening on Sunday evening: city tours, dinner
and dancing at Studio 54, downtown Freemont Street Experience, etc.
Oh, yes, and the slot machines. They even found some penny slots,
which were lots of fun. Queen Jill saw the newest Cirque
Du Soleil show, “Ka”, which was fantastic, and on another
night comedian Howie Mandel. He was GREAT.
Sunday
evening Exalted Queen Mother Sue Ellen Cooper arrived at the
Opening Ceremony on the back of a motorcycle driven by “Elvis.”
Wow, what an entrance! During the opening ceremony, they announced
how many hatters there were from each state. Seems 40 were in
attendance from Oregon, but only ran into about 6 others, including Queen
Pat Palmer and her daughter Ann Gould from the Victorian
Ladies.
Monday
morning was the PJ breakfast. Can’t you just imagine the looks on
people’s faces as we walked, hobbled and scootered through the casino to
the Conference Center in our PJs and slippers. It was lots of
fun, especially meeting red hatters from all over the USA. Then free
time until the banquet that evening.
Some
dressed to the hilt for the banquet. Some did not. NO
RULES! After a short cocktail party, we entered the banquet room and
enjoyed a lovely dinner. Food and service was excellent. Queen
Jill had photo taken with Exalted Queen Sue Ellen and Vice
Queen Linda. Then
came a fantastic show: Impressionist/comedian/wise woman, Louise
DuArt (www.louiseduart.com); an Elvis; and
then a Tom Jones impersonator. They were all FANTASTIC!
Tuesday
there were “playshops” and then high tea. Then on Wednesday, the
farewell breakfast.
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