Awkward Fundraising

I don't go to a lot of fundraisers. It's really not my world. I don't have the disposable income or the shoes to be out at auctions and luncheons etc. But once a year, I attend a fundraiser for the kids school parent teacher organization.

The event has been held in several different places over the past few years and I always enjoy checking out new venues. This year's event was held in the upstairs room of Sweeneys in St Paul. I didn't even know there was an upstairs.

Two separate bar areas and a dance floor. The silent auction items, always difficult to organize were set up along the wall, directly across from the buffet line that wrapped around the stair case. It was a neat layout that the stair case enters into the center of the space. So immediately you are immersed in the room.

There was a string quartet playing covers of popular songs like Gaga's Poker Face and Coldplay. Something I have had an affinity for since I first experienced Metallica and the San Franciso Symphony and Apocalyptica. The food was better than standard buffet fare, the meatballs were especially delicious. I still regret not going back for more.

Too many people in a small space, no presentation from the interns as they have had in the past, it was very functional. I purchased two activities for the kids, art for P, Tae Kwon Do and ice cream for K. (Kids doing martial arts while on a sugar high could probably have it's own youtube channel.) All in all it was fun night. Even if my father did spend too much in the silent auction on the art pieces each of my kid's classes created. But it was for, you know, kids.

One more thing I must point out as I try to do a better job of celebrating, acknowledging the good in my days. I am lucky that I have reached a point in my life where myself, my parents and my ex-wife can all carpool to an event, laugh, bait me into dancing with my son's kindergarten teacher, guard silent auctions bids like secret service agents, and in general eat, drink and be merry. Not a lot of divorcees have that type of relationship. So I've got that going for me.