A Reason to Shop

Until about a week ago, I knew virtually nothing about the insurance industry...in fact, I still know very little. But last week, I attended an industry banquet as the wife of a vice-president of an insurance underwriting firm.

I dressed up a little and, despite being horrible with hair styling (see this post! ), I even made a stab at doing something a little different with my usually-straight locks!  Lest I again be accused (Sheldon!) of never including a photo of myself in my blog, here's a shot of me late that evening - post all of the festivities, looking a little greasy, and already in my jammies...but with some wave to my hair!!

It was a nice enough event, though a few times I couldn't help but think that the insurance industry (or at least the host association) is fairly, well, confident.  For example, when we all sat down for dinner, an announcement was made that the executive team of the association was about to enter the banquet hall.  Everyone in the room stood again (and clapped) while the elite walked amongst the tables to the front of the room; they were led by a flag-bearing olympic athlete (who looked like she didn't quite understand why she was heading up a parade of insurance brokers...neither did I), and accompanied by the "I Believe" olympic theme song.  Really???

There were a few examples of this kind of organizational self-confidence.  Good for them, I suppose.  Despite the 'show,' I'm glad we went, not only because singer-songwriter Sierra Noble sang and played for us (and she was terrific!), but mostly because it gave me a chance to meet a few of the folks that Geoff now works with in his new role, and they seem like genuine and lovely people.  I have this feeling that, now that Geoff is part of the insurance industry, we've going to be attending these types of shindigs on a somewhat regular basis.  Hmm, I guess the advantage of this is that I'll positively have to purchase some new, dressier clothes...I can't possibly keep wearing the dress I wore last night, can I??