The Sticks Day Miracle: When What to Our Wondering Eyes Should Appear

We all met up at Patty's Egg Nest on 128th in S Everett at 10:30 on Sticks Day (for an explanation, such as it is, of Sticks Day, see previous post). All phone alarms were set to go off so we wouldn't miss the big moment. With videographer on hand, we breathlessly awaited the big moment. Besides the Fabulous Five were special guests Dori and Mihaela and Video Girl Shirl.
AH! The first phone flipped to 11:11! Ohh! The next two phones went! YAY!!! the AT&T phone finally caught up and all were agreed: it was officially Ultimate Sticks Time!!! The emotional moment was captured on video and included the excitement of the alarms, comments from the celebrants, and a glimpse of the party in progress. And let's not forget the big 11-11-11 wave!!! Patty's may never be the same...
Our next stop was Miss Sharon's house (that's moi!), to drop off cars and get set for the big day. Then it was off to the Red Lion Inn in downtown Seattle!!
Upon arrival we stashed our belongings in our roooms and it was off to the Elephant & Castle Pub in the basement of the hotel, to start our afternoon. At this point, Miss Cathy left the grand company to hang out with some Italians in Black Diamond. Oh, the call of duty will ever interfere with the lure of fun and frivolity!
The remaining four Misses journeyed the three blocks to Nordstrom for a little shopping - very little, actually: Miss Susie bought an eyeliner! - and then over to Von's. After that it was back to our rooms for a little freshening up before dinner.
We walked the three or four blocks to Benihana, commenting on the lovely weather patterns in this area. We were escorted to our table by the ever charming staff at the restaurant and were soon being entertained by our talented Japanese teppanyaki chef. We dined upon steak, shrimp, chicken, lobster, and all the accompaniments! And topped it all off with rainbow sherbet!!!
About midway through the hearty repast, Miss Rita looked up and said, subtly, to Miss Susie: "That's J.P. Patches over there." Miss Susie whispered to Miss Sharon, who whispered to Miss Adrienne, not wanting to embarrass the celebrity figure.
Miss Adrienne leapt from her seat and rushed over and re-introduced herself to the family, having spoken with them at a previous gathering, in her alter-ego as Her Honor, Mrs. City Councilwoman, quite forgetting she was incognito that evening - as was her surprised, yet pleased, constituent! The rest of the Misses gathered their wits and pretended that we dine in the company of distinguished celebrities of this stature every day. We were, however, quite agog at our good fortune on this momentous occaision!
If you did not have the great good fortune of having grown up in these beautiful, but wet environs, as did we five, you would not, perhaps, understand that this event could only be equated to having dinner at the next table to, oh, say the Power Rangers. Or Jack Sparrow. Okay, not quite Johnny Dep, but you get the picture! We were quite beside ourselves with joy! Really! It was enough to send us scurrying for our phones when we left the restaurant, to call our family to tell them!
ANYWAY...we left Benihana after a quite satisfying experience all around, and continued back to the Elephant & Castle to shoot pool and throw darts. Alas, it was not to be! Our hopes were dashed when, upon our arrival we found that the room was hosting a private party for the forseeable future and we were not invited! (The noive!)
Then hied we back to days of yesteryear...oops, sorry, wrong story...I meant, the concierge desk at the hotel to query said worthy as to where we would find another suitable establishment at which to pursue our games of choice. Hence we eventually came to the Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery, where we found both items required for our evening's entertainment.
After a couple of games, we decided to return to our rooms and play cards until the evening excitement of Sticks Time was upon us.
We went to our rooms, "jammied up", and waited. And waited. And waited. We were all exhausted and were actually joking about how funny it would be to fall asleep and miss it! Nevertheless the vaunted moment finally arrived and was greeted by many photos and much merriment on the part of the aforementioned jammied misses!
The next morning after nearly enough sleep, the four Misses - still one Miss short of a full deck - rose and sallied forth to Seattle's Best Coffee, where we caffeined up to our hearts' content.
Then off to Pike Place Market we ran! Okay, it was more of a purposeful meander, but you get my drift! As we arrived, we noticed a beautiful white chariot at curbside. We queried the attendant and found that this delightful conveyance was a 1962 Bentley "Princess". The helpful and charming driver quite readily agreed to take our photo with the motorcar, and the Market, in the background.
After trotting merrily through the Market, we ventured back to our rooms to check out. But wait! We were not quite finished with this lovely weekend! Re-enter Miss Cathy, for a lunch date with the fearsome foursome at Macaroni Grill at Northgate Mall!
Alas, but our time finally came to an end with much high hilarity, loads of laughter, hugs, and overflowing love for each other in our hearts. It's so nice to have your very own private holiday to celebrate with cherished friends!
I wonder what the Misses are doing on 12-12-12...?

Ode to Sticks Day

Just saying:
If you should happen to be at Patty's Egg Nest at 11:11 this morning (11/11/11), and you hear a bunch of women being rowdy, it's okay to join in the merriment! Just celebrating a long, honored, and silly tradition known as "Sticks Day"!
The Sticks phenomenon began with a very simple thing: a digital watch, back in the day at Blanchet High. Miss Rita Lu wore it to school one day, it beeped (teet teet), Miss Susie said "What's that?" And Miss Rita Lu answered "Sumpm new!"
Soon it was noticed that when it was 11:11, it looked like little "sticks" all lined up, and we began calling it Sticks Time. And so, 11/11, of course, became Sticks Day.
We actually call, email, text, or message each other every year "Happy Sticks Day", and we laugh when something happens at Sticks Time - or if we're on the phone together at Sticks Time.
The "we" I'm referring to, if inquiring minds want to know, is: Miss Rita Lu, Miss Adrienne, Miss Susie, Miss Cathy, and I (Miss Sharon).
At some point we figured out that the Ultimate Sticks Day (11/11/11) was going to happen in our lifetime!!! Imagine our unbounded joy! And so, a few months ago, plans began. (Originally we were going to do 'leven 'leven 'leven in Leavenworth, but those plans fell through...)
Miss Susie bought her plane ticket to come back to the Seattle area. Okay, she has family here to visit, also, but the true purpose of her trip was to join the gang for Sticks Day. Sorry to break it to you, family.
Hotel rooms downtown were booked, dinner reservations were made, and breakfast was scheduled so that we would all be together at both occurances of 11:11 that day.
Listen, we know it's silly, but it's OUR silliness! And I, for one, thank God for friends who are willing to give in and just BE SILLY every now and then!
And did I mention that we met in the fall of 1973...? 38 years of friendship! Now THAT'S something to celebrate!!! (Sorry for outing your age like that, ladies! :) )
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!
(I'll report back on how it went later...)