With all of the of the craziness that takes place in the weeks that follow the Miss Indiana pageant, there has been little time to share with everyone how the timely process of preparing for Miss America even begins. 
After hearing our loveable host Brad Brown say the words, “Miss Indiana 2010, Gabrielle Reed!” my mind went completely blank as I was immediately thrust into the spotlight. With little time to process how my life was about to change, family & friends, photographers, reporters and directors swarmed the stage. After all the chaos on stage, and the photos and congrats backstage with all of our amazing contestants, I was released to share the evening with my family and friends.
I rode with my two wonderful and closest friends, Haleigh and Christine Papania (http://www.myspace.com/pantreeowl), to meet my wonderful family at Applebees. Of course we get lost and drive to a different Applebess about 20min. further than we actually needed to be. We finally find the right location and manage to squeeze into the 12 person party we had waiting and saving us seats (the crown may have helped with this). I was so lucky to have so much of my family travel from Los Angeles and share this experience with me and I know the rest of them were there with me in spirit. As I enjoyed my evening with them I noticed the delightful women sharing the table next to us, Marni Lemons the Miss Indiana PR director and Sarah Wiley Miss Indiana 2004 who was the first Miss Indiana I had the honor to meet when I was 16. Just as I was settling in and relaxing with my family, Marni turns to me and is on the phone with someone from Ch.8 and says “Gabrielle how do you feel about an interview on Ch.8 at 8am,” and the job began! While the thought of waking up at 6am when it was already 1:30am wasn’t exactly a comforting thought, I was ready and excited to get to work.
As I made my way with my family back to hotel to try to to get some sleep, I realized not only did I not know where I was but I couldn’t remember where the hotel was, only that it shared a parking lot with a Steak & Shake. The drive back turned into a rather frustrating experience, as we called every Marriott in Indianapolis asking “are you the hotel that is hosting the contestants for the Miss Indiana Pageant?” Finally we find the hotel, I climb into my bed trying not to disturb my sleeping roommate and placed the crown on the pillow next to me, a long-standing tradition shared with me by Sarah Wiley MIN 2004. In the morning I remembered that I was supposed to come find Micheal Nash (Miss Indiana Secretary) before the meeting with the state board. So bright and early at 7am I strolled down the hall and knocked on the always mischievous, Mr. Nash’s door. At first there was sign of anyone hearing me but soon I heard some stumbling and crashing followed by a squinty eyed and disoriented Micheal at the door. I told him I was leaving the hotel and would be back in about an hour, he sluggishly nodded his head, waved his hand and shut the door. Note to self: Michael Nash does NOT do 7am.
I headed over to the studio with Marni and had a blast with Ch.8. What a wonderful way to start my year of service and I was thrilled to share my first appearance with them.
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