I consider myself a very privileged person. By privileged I mean lucky. You see I have what I call, an in, in my community. My involvement in my community has given me so many wonderful experiences and opportunities. For instance I have the privilege of being on the inside of creating Gold Nugget Days. I volunteer to be a Deputy Sheriff which means I get to play dress up, hang out with my friends and sell badges ( which is part of the fundraising for the Gold Nugget Museum). I attend committee meetings, ( specifically for the Queens Contest) where we imagine and create a show where we give an opportunity to young women from High School to become candidates and compete for the crown. Where we give opportunities for young performers to share their many levels of talent. Where we give elementary school children an opportunity to stand on the big stage at the Paradise Performing Arts Center, play there ukuleles and xylophones and sing their hearts out and then be rewarded with thunderous applause and cheers from the audience (235 of them) who are there to support and love all of them. What a privilege it is to be a part of it all. I feel a little bit bad for those who don’t get to see what goes on backstage. It is a whole new world of privilege. The day before opening ceremonies I have the privilege of dressing the stage. Setting up the tables with white tablecloths and flowers arrangements and teacups on saucers for the candidates and their escorts. I dress the stage with beautiful, blossoming plants that were generously loaned to us from DEJA VU Nursery and SaveMart. I get the chance to work with the candidates on stage presence and confidence and what to expect and imagine for the next night’s festivities. I have the privilege of seeing it all play out from backstage for the Opening Ceremonies Night. All the children, dressed in their pioneer outfits, sitting in the green room, trying to contain their excitement, with their teachers Mrs. Steele and Mrs Coffee, trying to achieve the same goal. The candidates fully dressed in their beautiful dresses. ( all 4 had hoop skirts). They looked like glamorous bumper cars in the narrow hallway, bouncing off of each other. Everyone was in place in the wings, (sides of stage) Christine the MC, Bill with the Gold Nugget Museum, Carol, the High Sheriff and all her deputies, Steve, our Grand Marshall, Frank our backstage manager, all whom are volunteers. On stage playing throughout the show was the Starlight String Quartet, Woody in the light booth giving me just what I asked for in lighting our stage and Kyle on sound making sure everyone heard everything. I consider it a privilege to work with and watch all these beautiful people come together to create this event/evening. It fills my heart to see my/our community do its thing. It’s just who we are. I encourage you all to get involved, volunteer, show up, inspire. It will fill the spaces in your heart that you didn’t even know needed filling. ♥️ I also encourage you to tell us about your point of view. The more we share our experiences, the more people will learn about us. Ours is a special community indeed and I am a proud and privileged member.
Have a beautiful day friends.

Looking forward to hearing from you. (Comment form below.)
– Sandy🎶