What are you good at? What you like to do? And What does the world need?
(Queen Mary, 2004 Founding Member on the trolley after her photo shoot at the Andrew Low House)
I do not know the exact answer to this question. I do know the world needs more laughter, more joy, and simply put, more FUN. October 8th was a fun time. It was not what I expected, which these gathering never ever are! Honestly the MJQs are not the group that I thought it would become. When we started this “club” (and I use that word very loosely)…when we started this “women’s only” club in 2004, I had visions of it being a vehicle for to me find dozens of like-minded, party loving, character creating, slightly outrageous, costume wearing, silly and fabulous girlfriends who would gather in one big ol’ loud party and romp through Savannah. A Ya-Ya Sisterhood. A Sweet Potato Queens thing.
My expectation and my need for dear friends who love being Queens and returning to the childlike wonder of wearing swishy dresses drove my desire to keep this group a different kind of “club.” I have learned to see it for what it is and at times I still forget. So I am reminding myself right now. It is a group of diverse interests, diverse needs, diverse likes and dislikes. One lady’s definition of a Fun Event is sitting talking to one queen all night long. One Queen’s idea of a fabulous time is visiting MJQs over a light lunch and then returning home to children and husband. Another needs to dress up in wild attire and is a driving force of Royalness, while yet another lady absolutely hates dressing up and does not like calling attention to herself.
The Membership Directory Project is turning out to be different than my original expectations, too. Just the way the MJQs themselves have formed a group that is unique, personal, and encompassing many different personalities. The Project I started this year in June was to be a wonderful adventure of our escapades during the next 12 months. I saw it happening with bubbling enthusiasm and excitement, as each MJQ had her photo made for the Membership directory. I imagined each queen supporting the others when they had their turn to have a photo shoot . I was projecting my needs onto the group again. Silly me!
Today I am looking at a morning glory vine. I see it outside my kitchen window. Grown from seeds back in May, its seed packet advertised a glorious array of sky blue blossoms. All summer I have looked at that big crawling vine and wondered what I could do to make it bloom. Bloom, darn you! BLOOM! It refused. I have searched Google and asked gardeners. Every time I look at it, the voice in my head says,”Why is that thing not blooming? What can you do to make it bloom?” The vine coming out of the ground is the size of my thumb and the leaves are lush and tropical, all hanging in a thick canopy on the corners of the porch.
Today I see that I need to love the leaves for their beauty, for the shade, the texture and the simple greenness they add to the brown of the trellis, much the way I need to accept the Queens and the group for what it is. It may not be packed with show stopping blossoms, but it is truly a miracle plant to have grown so much and to be so incredibly happy in the heat and humidity of Savannah hottest summer. The Queens are my morning glory. Wonderful.
This does not mean however, that I have stopped looking for Blossoms on the Morning Glory. I just know I can’t make it bloom if it does not want to, any more than I can make the Queens be excited and enthusiastic if they do not want to be. We still need 5-10 new MJQs to keep the group growing and healthy.