Last Tuesday I donned a blue patterned noose and attended a fundraising event at the Vesper Country Club in Tyngsboro. As I arrived and walked down the deck stairs to the poolside patio, the golden near-solstice reflecting off the Merrimack River  eclipsed the sunshine I was seeking. A waitress glided by balancing a tray of martini’s and I lessened her burden by one Cosmo. (Hey, it was a ‘Martini Spring Fling” and dry Bombay Sapphire wasn’t on the menu…) I soon spotted some co-workers including “K-Fic” who immediately reminded me I was there to do Barb’s bidding… Ugh. Barb was deeply involved in this United Way “Summer Experiences in Greater Lowell,” a charity that helps some 3,000 children participate in quality summer programs. She secured Kronos as the lead sponsor and then called in every favor she could to collect cool silent auction items that now surrounded the patio. I walked along the long row of white papered tables and read each of the descriptions carefully put together to effectively market the auction items. There were lakeside mansion and luxury hotel weekends, golf getaways, Sox and Pats tickets. I kept walking and scanning… Then I saw it. I was “authorized” to go high, and while I wasn’t sure I could bid at all, I had to. Barb wanted the Derek Jeter ball… I needed another Cosmo. After a long sip I tabled the drink and then bid the minimum $50 with a shaky hand. I quickly moved down the table to avoid association with what many attendees would consider an evil orb. “What the…” I couldn’t believe it. I was looking at a group of items with “Uncle Tupelo 89/93: An Anthology” the centerpiece. I just smiled. I knew Barb was behind it, and somewhere vacationing in Maui, I’m sure she was wondering what that moment would be like. It was magic. With no reservations I bid $100.

The speakers gathered on the deck with one of the charity co-chairs welcoming and introducing guests, including US Representative Niki Tsongas. After a few speeches, including the best one of the evening by a local young man and beneficiary of the program, the second co-chair stepped to the podium… Whoa. A stunning brunette. I do recall she said “thank you” to many people and used quite a few hand signals. I think she may have signaled a double dribble on a guest slurping their Appletini, but I wasn’t sure, so I let it go. OK, back to the bidding… What? Someone bid $100 for the over-actor’s ball? Damn, time was running out and I had to bid, but I couldn’t get that SEGL brunette out of my mind. OK, $150 for Barb’s Ball Boy. What? I’m outbid to the Tupelo stuff, too? No way. I hastened to $150 as the clock ran out…

As I paid for my items and Barb’s, I overheard SEGL members talking about how great Joyce was to work with and how hard she worked. Yes, my SEGL brunette worked tirelessly to recruit members, maximize auction items, and plan and execute a great event. I’m so proud of how her (and others) selflessness helped so many kids. She and Barb were a force. Frankly, they scare me. In fact, one of them had a friend bid up the Tupelo stuff so I had to pay more… Oh, and I did mention Barb was in Maui, right?