The final night of AIFD’s Leadership Gala never disappoints.
This year was no exception.
Through the kindness of Bill Schaffer, AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI
via
Ian Prosser, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, MPI, NACE, NDSF, SAF, AAF,
~I was invited to sit at a table with Grace Ormonde for the banquet.~
What an honor and delight.
It was an already opulent evening, with decor
by Toomie Farris, AIFD, AAF,
and friends.
by Toomie Farris, AIFD, AAF,
and friends.
And then came a Grace encounter.
Grace was lovely and gracious.
I told her how I came to know of her magazine:
My husband always looks for special things to put in my stocking at Christmastime.
Several years ago, he tucked her magazine in with some other special treasures specific to florists.
I remember turning the pages, stunned at the level of content.
I said “Well, Merry Christmas to ME!”
A tradition was born.
If I don’t get Grace in my stocking, it just does not seem like Christmas.
She loved the story, thanked me sharing it with her.
We chatted for a while and it was lovely.
So, an already fabulous AIFD Symposium was topped off by dinner with Grace Ormonde.
Her name suits her well.
Her name suits her well.
Just when you think things couldn’t get any better.
Did they ever find the book???
No, not as far as I know. She was aware of it and very kind about it. She said something to the effect of… I hope it went to someone who truly couldn't afford it. She was gracious about it.