Following the Genesis Luncheon back on Thursday, May 8, Mother Nature managed to blow through Dallas like a Harry Josh dryer. At times downtown Dallas high rises swayed, mighty trees fell and the Turtle Creek along Lakeside looked like a bunch of loggers had hit and run.
Still Crystal Charity Ball Chair Robyn Conlon maintained her plan of action to hold the dinner underwritten by U.S. Trust Bank of American Private Wealth Management at Cameron and Clay Smith’s Preston Hollow home.
Just down the road a homeowner on Hathaway pulled out his chainsaw to address the carcass of a tree that blocked the street.
By party time, all was well. By the time, guests arrived, Ma Nature had taken to her lounging couch due to exhaustion. It was a far cry from last year’s dinner, when the guests left the dinner as the weather sirens were screeching.
In the meantime, Robyn had everything from the blue table settings to gifts wrapped in blue and white polka dotted ribbons perfectly arranged. Even her dress and earrings were true blue.
Following tradition, the former chairs — Barbara Varel (1970), Sally Berry (1990), Sara Martineau (1993), Barbara Stuart ( 1994), Randi Halsell (1996), Linda Beach (1998), Becky Bright (1999), Karen Shuford (2000), Nancy Chapman (2001), Lydia Novakov (2002), Louise Griffeth (2003), Margo Goodwin (2004), Vicki Chapman (2007), Debbie Oates (2009), Aileen Pratt (2012) and Caren Kline (2013) —gathered for their group photo. Photographer Holt Haynsworth decided that outdoors in front of the Smith home was the perfect spot. Just as the moment of snapping the shot arrived, the last of the chairs — Tincy Miller (1997) — arrived. Talk about perfect timing! Little did the former chairs realize that their favor of the evening was a frame just made to hold the group photo.
Then guests gathered in the Smiths’ living room for the official welcome. But as usual, the clinking of a glass couldn’t be heard over the guests chatting. So, Robyn called on unofficial CCB Deputy Sergeant at Arms Melissa Macatee to get their attention. Once again the diminutive brunette puckered up and whistled impressing the CCB veterans including Melissa’s mom, Barbara Stuart.
Robyn welcomed them and Rick Pomeroy thanked them for allowing U.S. Trust Bank of American Private Wealth Management to be part of the effort to help the children of Dallas.
Then the guests headed to their assigned seats for a dinner of field greens with Granny Smith apples, golden raisins and manchango cheese with balsamic dressing; grilled beef tenderloin, au gratin potatoes and seared Brussels sprouts and raspberry crème crepe for dessert.
Of course, the topic du jour was the weather. In addition to downed trees, power outages played havoc with getting ready for the evening. There’s nothing more fun that dressing in the dark or trying to dry shoulder-length hair without electricity.
By the time dinner was a done deal, the tree that had blocked Hathaway was ripe for a new assignment — firewood.