Blue Martini located at the Millenia Mall hosted the Little Black Dress Fundraiser to raise funds for Dress for Success. The mission of Dress for Success is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Wendy Wallenburg brought the event to Terry’s attention and she was excited to sport one of her little black dresses. She told me as we got ready, that I was a very lucky man, since I would be escorting three beautiful women. I dressed all in black for the occasion.
When Terry and I arrived at Blue Martini, we had to stay outside at the bar since they hadn’t opened the doors yet. The bar was packed. We did two laps searching for a table with no luck. We finally asked to sit with an older couple. A women at the next table waved to me and let me know they were leaving soon. We joined them. Terry leaned in and gestured to the couple we had just left. They were making out, hot and heavy. “Sheesh, get a room.” she joked. Donna Brooker Connors, a friend of Terry’s from Book Club, joined us. A thick dark blanket of storm clouds were rolling in. Lightning flashed on the horizon. I could smell the ozone.
Just before the rain hit, it was time to go in. We slipped in the back door and Terry rushed to a table at the far end of the place. I lingered behind, sitting at a spot where I could sketch the band and dance floor but then I decided to just go with the flow. I joined Terry at her chosen table. Sarah Austin joined us. She is another Book Club friend of Terry’s. All the women looked amazing in their little black dresses. The women got free champagne. I couldn’t hear the conversation at our table, I could only hear the roar of the room. I dashed off my first sketch as the place filled up getting louder. When the band started to play, Terry and I got up to dance. Musicology performed an eclectic blend of very danceable music. Then they played a slow song and we danced cheek to cheek. It was a blissful moment.
Back at the table, Donna had to leave since she was getting over a cold. Wendy sent Terry a text saying she couldn’t make it. She was stuck up in Winter Park in the rain. Sarah and Terry compared notes on the men in the room. Sarah shared a picture of her boyfriend who has a ponytail. Then we realized there were men everywhere in the room with ponytails. A group of very busty women piled into the table next to us. A woman hugged her girlfriend from behind cupping her breasts and shaking them. Some women had impossible Disney Princess figures supplemented with silicone. There was a chocolate fountain and designer handbags. Every woman had a raffle ticket for the big items being given away at the end of the evening. Sarah had Terry and I laughing all night.