GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

A Girlfriend Gathering Day Trip – At Dickens on the Strand 2013

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On December 7th, I was able to mark off another item from my Bucket List.   The item was to attend the annual Dickens on The Strand in downtown Galveston, Texas.Even though it was only 39 degrees, which is cold for us in Southeast Texas, we did a girlfriend day trip to Galveston to check out this event.

For the past 5 years, I have attempted to attend but either work schedule or family schedule prevented it.    This year my calendar was completely open for the date and I called up a few friends to join me.   We were all newbies to this event so we were excited about it.   So, we bundled up and made the nice drive to the end of I-45 South – Galveston Island.

We arrived and joined the other attendees in boutique shop hopping, tented booth perusing, people watching and gathering for displays of animal feats like a man with a falcon.  After walking around several of the blocks of the festival area we soon arrived at a spot to watch Queen Victoria’s parade while drinking hot chocolate.    After the parade, we were at a lost to find more to do as the average attendee.

This leads to my summation of my attendance to this event.   I know that I would have been more enthralled had I splurged and booked a hotel room at The Tremont House Hotel, dressed up for the period in a pirate woman’s outfit from Boss Wench (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boss-Wench/361704803919844), made a reservations to have tea with Queen Victoria /dinner with Dickens and finish it off with a sunset sail on a tall ship.  But, since I did not participate at that level, my experience at Dickens on The Strand was not all that it could have been.   My friends felt the same way.

Here are a few photos from the event:

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The Best Things In Life #2 – Good Conversation

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One of the things I love to do is talk.   Any subject will suffice as a conversation starter for me.   Then that conversation may generate other questions and lead to an entirely different subject.   Also, I can start a conversation with anyone in any place.  I have met some wonderful people in this manner.

Today, I brought 12 fabulous women together in our annual holiday brunch at the Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas which is one of our favorite brunch spots.   Some of these women met each other in prior outings and some of them were joining us for the first time.   Everyone was a great fit in the group.   The conversation flowed the entire time and we covered subjects from the endearing nickname of Nelson Mandela to a recipe for bread pudding.    At some points we had one conversation that included the entire group and then at other points there were several mini conversations.   I enjoyed walking around the long table sticking my ears in all of the different conversations.    I really enjoyed watching the newcomers bonding with the regulars as if they were old friends.

We laughed a lot, ate some great food, and drank mimosas which really ” loosened the lips” and added flavor to the conversation.    Also, I am always amazed at what occurs during these conversational moments.   Some experience shared by one person is always a healing moment for someone else.     Through good conversation, a person can open their life and help another.

It was a true “girlfriend gathering”.   (And, yes, we were responsible and had designated drivers.)

To learn more about the beautiful Hotel Galvez in Galveston, Texas read my earlier blog post:

https://gossipfromthegirlfriendgatherings.com/2011/11/01/a-girlfriend-gathering-%E2%80%93-on-the-road-at-the-hotel-galvez/

QUESTIONS:

How do you feel about conversation?

Are you a talker?   Listener?     Equally both?

Have you ever gained insight through a good conversation?