We wanted to share a Facebook post from Tamara Mrs. Adams County as she returns for another year in the 2020 pageant :
Yes, I am competing in the Mrs. Colorado Again.
And the reasons are many.
If you know me you know I can be a woman of little words, or Too many words. I have been in a dramatic field half my life. As a child I was a performer. I danced all around our beautiful country and Mexico. I was a Cheerleader, I was in Drill team, I played violin, guitar and alto sax, performed with and for Disney, Competed in things in these fields, and on and on. My life story has many layers in between. There are chapters of not so great bumps and bruises, challenges, and growth. Which brings to mind; There is a song Cher sings - You haven't seen the last of me - It truly sums it all up.
When that song came out it struck a big cord. I'd play it over and over and Sing as Loud as I could! Yes, I've been there on my knees - Even worse, I had given up.
But I woke up. And when my eyes opened I knew my life had a purpose. Regardless if I would ever know what the true meaning was or Meanings were, I am supposed to be here and my job is not over.
I have always said, "I have had a blessed life", and I mean it. See, Although there have been extremely painful events, Overall, looking back I feel and see the Happy times. The blessed times which I carry with me like ribbons on my chest - The smiles and laughter are my crown.
When you read the previous of a performing girl since the age of three; One might think I should be very social … but … like many novels another chapter and the story evolves. Such are our lives.
After I married I was 'crowned' a Military Wife. I knew I had the strength to take on this MOS (military occupation code), this assignment. As time went by and my husband stepped up in rank so did our responsibilities. Along came the children and it was clear there were going to be many times I was to be in the role of single mom. We lived where we had no family and often not near a base, where I might have a support group that would understand what we were going through. The challenge was met. The last 10 years my husband's position took him away. He was in places and positions that would make your eyes pop. We here on the home front, in Colorado, became sort of segregated from many things. A type of freedom others take for granted was not ours. I kept a low profile socially to keep our family out of harm's way. My husband's position was such that we led a more silent lifestyle - very secured compared to most people who were all over social media posting their lives. We could not do such things. The children never did what their friends were up to like twitter or the like. They were ok with that, as they understood why.
I also moved my parents to Colorado; my mom was Terminally ill and I became their advocate for medical care etc. All while my husband was not at home. He has now retired and our family is a strong tight network of just us 5 in Colorado.
OK, So why as a woman over 50 did I go back to the stage? Why MRs. Colorado?
Why not? It was time. I needed to step back on a stage and get back to my roots.
Now that my husband retired from the Marine Corp. and the children off to college.
Who a I? Mom - Wife - Daughter - Tamara
*and being the only woman in a house full of boys for 25 years, had I forgotten how to be feminine?
I chose Mrs Colorado America after speaking to Emily. I felt the warm and fuzzies with her calming sweet persona. And joined a group of women who put me in awe! Amazing women! Emily the director is WOW! These classy accomplished women - these spiritual, kind hearted, strong women! And I felt like a fish out of water. Now the next part - What was my talent without my talent? Who am I without my dance? Who am I period? I have had so many, as stated, chapters in my life.
How or where do I begin?? I 'd been living in a medium sized bubble where I could not speak of many events because of security, now I needed to.
Did I mention Fifity yes - 50% of the points are interview. typically I can fly through an interview like an Eagle over the Rockies….Ummm…. but it had been a very long time since Id had to and in 3minutes how do I fit it all in?
And How can I show 'me'? Am I enough? Am I what they are looking for?
Does it matter if Im not, since I am not sure how to express ME?
I've Always seen myself as an average woman, wife, mom, daughter, and this was my challenge. Who are you and how can you fit it all into 3min.
Can I get extra points for being an awesome Military wife or Mom or Daughter? *wink wink*
Oh, & how about that swimsuit competition at the age of 50+?
So there I was - I challenged myself and jumped in.
My mother's dream was to see me wear a crown. A crown locally or nationally the bigger the better. She was always my biggest cheerleader. Before she past she was able to see me up on that stage. After 30 years
She even watched me place in the top 12. I promised her Id do it again but she past away. I did it anyway and it was awkward and painful not to have my biggest support with me - physically with me. I did the pageant without her last year, and my family supported me with so much love! But I still felt a little lost. The loss of my mom has been very hard and even though I knew she was with me in spirit - I was still off balance.
So why do it AGAIN? As a title holder you participate in and volunteer for a good number of things. And I do quite a bit of that without a crown & with a crown And you know what? It’s a fulfillment like no other to pay it forward or stretch out your hand to another in need - Its even fun. I've worked at Children's Hospitals and volunteered at fundraisers. As a family we've supported Car Shows that have a variety of nonprofit affiliations. I've sent care packages overseas to soldiers and Created phone trees, websites for families of vets overseas, and collected Toys for Tots and much more. And while some of those volunteer opportunities will always remain more picturesque than the ones I do on a monthly basis it will always feel good to give my time and resources. Mrs America Organization support Victora's Voice and this is dear to my hear as well.
YUP! I'm taking the challenge again. I'm challenging me at the age of 55 to take my novel and share it in as concise of a manner as possible. A chance to once again join my esteemed lady friends for a female bonding of the souls. to be a part of healthy competition in a program that the gracious Emily creates like a work of art. A wonderful opportunity to help another without even knowing it.
I hope you will join me in my journey. I hope you will be with me after my journey. I hope you will want to read the chapters of my novel that I cant fit into the 3 minutes. And when the dust settles and the naysayers are still chiming in, we will see our true friends, for they are the ones who will always cheer you on over and over again and never have a jealous reaction to your goals. They are the ones that remain even after the excitement of the pageant is over. In life, I may or may not go through more pageants, BUT I will remind myself that the true friends are the ones still standing when the going gets tough OR the sparkle is over. For in my heart I know this is a beautiful way to share in each other's stories and find We Are Not All so Different.
#mrscolorado #mrsamerica #me #iamenough #proudwife #dontringthebell
*wont you join me
