Photo by: N.L. Belardes
One Bakersfield Woman's Blog to Mankind
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The Mary Wong Lee Memorial Scholarship
A funny thing happened during the Keynote luncheon at the Yosemite Writer’s Conference. I was sitting at a table with NL, Malcolm Margolin, and a couple writers from the Bay area staring at a bowl of cold pink soup that the waiter had placed in front of me. “It’s pink.” I said.
“You won’t like it.” NL said after tasting it. He knows I’m not much of a soup eater.
So there I was staring at cold pink soup only half way paying attention to Cindy Wathen as she thanked the conference sponsors from the podium when I heard her say that next they would bring up the scholarship winners.
Scholarship winners! I’m a scholarship winner! I’m gonna have to go up there! I hope I don’t have to say anything! I thought.
I was instantly embarrassed. I don’t like being the center of attention in a big crowd. NL was laughing at my moment of freaking out and began taking pictures of me catching embarrassing expressions on my face. I made a cross with my fingers and held it up towards NL and his camera as if warding off evil spirits. “You’d think I’d be used to being photographed by now.” I said as Malcolm laughed at my discomfort.
And then I heard the Master of Ceremonies announce, “The Mary Wong Lee Memorial Scholarship recipient is…” And then he spoke my name… I got up and walked to the podium, shook his hand, took the certificate he handed me, and walked back to the table while people applauded and NL took photos.
Thank God I didn’t have to say anything… I sent up a quick prayer of thanks.
“Show your certificate for the blog.” NL said as I sat back down.
I had just put my scholarship certificate in my bag when two women approached me.
“Hi, you won our scholarship!” Roxene Lee said.
I quickly got up to thank them as they rushed forward and hugged me with big smiles on their faces. I liked them instantly. “Thank you so much for your generosity and for making it possible for me to attend the conference.” I said.
“Our mother was wonderful, this is our way of keeping her involved with us.” Roxene said.
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Me, Roxene Lee and Karene Conlin
We were all dressed alike, it was meant to be...
They asked me about my conference experience and my writing. I told them about my blog and my novel Killing Cinderella.
“Oh I like that title!” Roxene said.
She told me about her book called All Dressed Up and No Place to Go and how she was a writer at the conference just like me.
Sisters, Roxene Lee and Karene Conlin are two of the sweetest people I have ever met and I was so honored to be the recipient of their scholarship. Their generosity is inspiring…
A funny thing happened during the Keynote luncheon at the Yosemite Writer’s Conference. I was sitting at a table with NL, Malcolm Margolin, and a couple writers from the Bay area staring at a bowl of cold pink soup that the waiter had placed in front of me. “It’s pink.” I said.
“You won’t like it.” NL said after tasting it. He knows I’m not much of a soup eater.
So there I was staring at cold pink soup only half way paying attention to Cindy Wathen as she thanked the conference sponsors from the podium when I heard her say that next they would bring up the scholarship winners.
Scholarship winners! I’m a scholarship winner! I’m gonna have to go up there! I hope I don’t have to say anything! I thought.
I was instantly embarrassed. I don’t like being the center of attention in a big crowd. NL was laughing at my moment of freaking out and began taking pictures of me catching embarrassing expressions on my face. I made a cross with my fingers and held it up towards NL and his camera as if warding off evil spirits. “You’d think I’d be used to being photographed by now.” I said as Malcolm laughed at my discomfort.
And then I heard the Master of Ceremonies announce, “The Mary Wong Lee Memorial Scholarship recipient is…” And then he spoke my name… I got up and walked to the podium, shook his hand, took the certificate he handed me, and walked back to the table while people applauded and NL took photos.
Thank God I didn’t have to say anything… I sent up a quick prayer of thanks.
“Show your certificate for the blog.” NL said as I sat back down.
I had just put my scholarship certificate in my bag when two women approached me.
“Hi, you won our scholarship!” Roxene Lee said.
I quickly got up to thank them as they rushed forward and hugged me with big smiles on their faces. I liked them instantly. “Thank you so much for your generosity and for making it possible for me to attend the conference.” I said.
“Our mother was wonderful, this is our way of keeping her involved with us.” Roxene said.
Me, Roxene Lee and Karene Conlin
We were all dressed alike, it was meant to be...
They asked me about my conference experience and my writing. I told them about my blog and my novel Killing Cinderella.
“Oh I like that title!” Roxene said.
She told me about her book called All Dressed Up and No Place to Go and how she was a writer at the conference just like me.
Sisters, Roxene Lee and Karene Conlin are two of the sweetest people I have ever met and I was so honored to be the recipient of their scholarship. Their generosity is inspiring…
Wow! That's super great! Congrats!!
Congratulations!
xo, cdarling
so so proud of you!
A beautiful group of writers and supporters... Those were great moments up in the mountains.