NW M/s Contest–The slave’s Point of View
Kicking and screaming is one way to describe how i was when Master said we’d be entering the NW Master slave contest. Actually, i whined, i cried, i fussed, i practically begged that i didn’t think we should enter the contest. Well, my opinion was reviewed, but ignored. We would enter the contest and give them a run for their money. my stomach churned at the thought of giving a speech–something i haven’t done since i was 13! Sit in front of a panel of 7 judges and be interviewed for 45 minutes? More churning. Give that speech in front of an audience? There’s no way i could do that. Master said "oh, you’ll memorize the speech and it’ll be easy." i respectfully told Him there was no way i could memorize a 2 minute speech!

i am not kidding when i say i cried even trying to write the speech. i feel confident that i put my words together well for things like my journal or posting to message boards but a speech! i got terribly stuck! So Master knew i had a couple of subjects for a speech so he made it an assignment that i write on them both. i managed to get that done–still feeling uneasy about my words. He read them and polished them and sent them back to me. Now i had two good speeches. Whew.

i still am not sure why i got so stuck on the speech part of this whole thing. i was nervous about the interview portion and the POP question part of the contest but figured i could probably muddle my way through. For two months i stressed over this.

Both Master and i weren’t into this contest to win, however, neither of us has the kind of personality that would have us go at anything without giving it our very best. i knew in my heart that i could get through whatever the judges threw at me (us).

So, for a month, i practiced my speech. At first i would take both of them on my walks at work. I walk three times a day (2 breaks and my lunch) and would read these several times. Eventually i had one that felt good and just went with that. i’d read it over and over again and started to actually memorize it. People must have thought me crazy walking down the street by myself going over and over that speech. By the end of the month of practicing i DID have the entire speech memorized! Okay, never say you "can’t" do something. It’s more that you don’t want to.

So for the two weeks prior to this contest i had that tight chest feeling–anxiety. It was eating away at me. Master was very encouraging and even with my almost daily whining that i wasn’t going to get through this He NEVER got mad at me. Always, always He said "you’ll do just fine–breathe." i kept expecting Him to blow up but He just was kind to me.
My chest pain increased on the day of travel to San Jose. Luckily we got there a day early which gave us time to relax for an entire afternoon by the pool. i had a couple Mojito’s (lovely rum drink with mint leaves and lime). There was a small sense of relief that there was no turning back now. We’re here.

Thursday evening there was a small meeting of people in Club Max–almost like a munch of sorts. We saw a few people we already knew and most importantly met the other contestant couple, Master Bob and slave jan. They aren’t too scary. They were very friendly and we had a lovely chat with them. One of the best things about the weekend is we spent a LOT of time with these people and had lots of good conversation. In my heart, i wanted them to win–i gave jan many a pat on the back to encourage her. They simply had to be as nervous as us!

Friday was a fairly easy day for us. All we really had to do was the Meet and Greet at 4:30 and the keynote dinner.
The Meet and Greet went really well. We managed to talk to all but one judge. We had at least 15 minute conversations with many of them. This was a WONDERFUL thing as it really made me feel a lot more comfortable the next day. We already were familiar with a few of the judges so were able to make some conversation about having met them before. They were all curious about us and where we came from. We happily answered their queries.

When we left this function, my face hurt from smiling. i smiled for 90 minutes straight!

Now, one thing i forgot to mention here is that part of the contest is the judges "observing" for the weekend. 75 points were given for observing so i worked extra, extra hard at things like not interrupting anyone, waiting my turn to speak, keeping my hands behind my back, making sure Master had whatever he needed, remembering to not sit down until Master sat down. These are things i try to do on a daily basis but being under a microscope meant i wanted to be really good at it.

So we went to the keynote dinner–a lovely $38.00 buffet. We sat a table with a couple people from our area, the other contestants and a few other new friends. You never leave a dinner like that without having met people since the tables are always big!

The keynote speech was given by slave marsha (one of the judges) and her Master Jim. We have great respect for this couple as we spent 3 hours at one of their "workshops" in January and got a LOT out of it.

The speech went on and on about a journey. These two are good speakers (slave marsha is a trial attorney so she is great). As the speech went on Master and i kept looking at each other–the things they were saying was just a long version of His speech! Ut oh! Master said "they’ll either think i re-wrote their speech really fast or they’ll love mine." i would have cried if that happened about my speech, but He was fine.

So Friday night also included a play party in the very large dungeon. Being contestants, we wanted to make sure we were seen playing there. That’s not a problem, we would have anyway. i did ask Master to go easy on me. We had a big day the next day. Once we found something to play on we spent about an hour there. There was a woman getting whipped pretty severely in a nearby space and most people were over there watching her crumple to the ground and cry.
It was funny when we left and ran into one of our locals. She said how she heard something in the dungeon and recognized it as me. Well, no sense being tied up and whipped and not making any noise–but funny she heard me over that other girl!

So off we go to bed in hopes of a good night sleep. Well, that didn’t happen. Five hours later at 5:00 a.m. we are both awake. We laid there for two hours. Maybe i could catch a plane back home! Do i really have to do this? What will they think of me? What will i wear? Speech repeated a couple times in my head–not easy to do, by the way. Will anyone notice the big zit that appeared in my nose? Is that cramps i’m feeling? The thoughts went on for two hours.
We got up, practiced our speech and presentation a couple times, got coffee and breakfast. I made MANY trips to the bathroom because my nerves were so shot by this time that i had a lovely case of the runs. Oh, this is just frickin’ perfect. my body is very upset with me.

So now it’s time for the interview portion. We are told we can’t see each other’s interviews. A coin is flipped to see who will go first. Master Bob and jan get to go first. i would have been happy to go first. We are asked to wait outside. Our friend patricia comes and sits with us during this whole time. What a lovely woman! It was good to be distracted.

i run to the potty a couple more times and finally it’s our turn. Now they have to wait for us to be done in case there are follow up questions.

i follow Master in and wait for Him to sit. We are up on a stage in two chairs with the judges down below. This is open to anyone but the other couple, but very few people take the time to attend.

Each judge asked us a question or two. Each question was addressed to both of us. We made it through really well, i think, but of course looking back i feel like there are many things i should have answered differently. i really feel like i didn’t articulate about my slaveheart in a very good way. i also did my best to be lighthearted and witty. i got them to laugh right off the bat when they asked how they should address each of us. i said "you can call me kelly, slave kelly, or... sweetie."

So we finished that part and went out of the room. Yup, more questions. Again we waited for the other couple then had our turn. The more they asked questions, the more i could tell this title was not just a teaching title but a lot of concern was about representing all walks of kinky life–"what about gays, lesbians, etc." We did our best to express how we felt about all people in our usual positive fashion.

So now we’re done for a couple of hours. Enough time to grab something to eat which we decide isn’t a good idea. Let’s just wait so that we don’t feel icky for the presentation part then eat after that. We go back to the room and practice our presentation some more. my part in this is pretty simple except for telling the story of our collaring. Having tried to practice that on my walks it just kept coming out too prepped sounding. i knew that just telling it from the heart would be a lot easier. i did sort of "tell" it during our rehearsals but still knew it would just come out.

So time rolls around again for the presentations. This time we were going to be able to watch the other couple.
They have to go first again. We listen as they do their little talk. There are a couple questions after (we aren’t allowed to ask any) and then a question from one judge that is totally off topic. The Head Judge thinks it’s not appropriate. He consults slave marsha who says "it’s not unusual to have a question off topic." This question was political, in nature. It was a long comment followed by three questions, actually. Poor Master Bob and jan get through that and get to sit down.

Now it’s our turn! I’m not really all that nervous. There’s no turning back so just go forward.
We do our presentation on ritual and ceremony. Master starts by giving me a command to kneel which he has quietly told me to ignore. When i kneel after the third command and he tells the audience he’d given me a command not to kneel i hear a little chuckle from slave marsha. That’s a good sign. To me, a good presentation is going to grab some emotions whether it makes a person cry or laugh or really think–they’ll be paying attention.

So we get through our presentation and i tell my story (not as well as i’d hoped but i did my best). We get a question from the audience that’s really good–then–that political question comes our way. It feels like an attack. The judge is complaining about having to be at this event when there are other events the same weekend. We answer her in the way we can best answer. Master did a fabulous job, knowing what it’s like to be involved in various events. Later i think to myself i should have said "that’s a very good question but not really related to our presentation–how about we talk about that after so more people can ask a related question..." or something like that. It was a judge so it never crossed my mind.

Now that part is over! Whewy! We walk downstairs and end up chatting for quite awhile with the contest coordinator and another gentleman about the politics going on between events. They apologized up and down about our having been caught in the crossfire. Oh well, maybe the other judges will see that we handled that pretty well.
We are also starving but STILL not out of the woods for stressful events that take place that evening. Master and i go to the coffee shop and eat very light then go up to our room for a little relaxation. By now, i’ve had a light headache the entire day and not enough sleep and generally am not feeling very good. my period has also started WAY off schedule. Isn’t this fun?

After a little rest we practice the speech some more. We were on the 8th floor so i stood in front of the big windows that face the highway and give my speech (naked) to all the cars parked in the huge lot on the other side of the highway. They all remain quiet but are attentive listeners.

Master and i once again fuss over what to wear to this final part of the contest. We’ve done several costume changes during the day. Master had planned on a regular suit but realized that leather was the way to go. For the slave, a leather skirt, sexy boots and the nice top (not sure how to describe it–almost like a corset but not) would do nicely.
We figure the majority of the points for this event have already been scored. Only thing left is the speeches and pop question which is 150 total. We’ll do fine in this part.

i can’t really remember the order of the questions and speeches. i do know that Master answered His question very well. Then mine. We get to draw an envelope. Now, keep in mind i had read that often the pop question has a humorous answer. i can do that! My question is something like "there must be times you want out of this relationship–what keeps you in it?" i held the microphone up to my mouth and said in a clear voice "it’s the ropes around me and the chains at my ankles." Big laugh! Whew. Now, there is a rather large audience and i’m a bit nervous. Should i leave it at that or say something more profound. i decide to say "that’s my answer."

Oh thank goodness, nothing left for us to do! Once everyone has done their speeches and questions it’s time for a break while the judges finish their scoring and the tally Master computes the scores and a decision in made.

Now, by this time, i’m pretty worried we’re going to win. It just seemed to me that Master and i had much more of a "presence" and somehow i had it stuck in my head that the titleholders would need that. Neither of us has trouble being in front of people and come across with confidence. i will say that Master admitted He was surprised that i did so well in front of an audience. Although that made me nervous, i’m not afraid to speak up!

So the break’s over and we are asked to all come up on stage. They have an envelope with the winner’s names inside. All four of us watch the emcee open the envelope. Even though i am the farthest away i can see the winner’s name. Oh thank goodness! It’s Master Bob and slave jan. A huge feeling of relief washes over me! My head is pounding with a horrible headache at this point but i feel the blood rush away from my parts and the stress disappear! jan is crying. i hug her and she says "i’m so sorry, i’m so sorry." i said "oh, please, don’t be sorry, i’m SO happy!" i hug Master Bob and tell him too, "i’m so happy!" This moment will stick in my head a long time.

So we back ourselves off the stage while Master Bob and slave jan get pictures taken. A sort of receiving line starts nearby–the judges and various people are coming to talk to us. "You HAVE to run again–it was so close!" "NOW it’s okay to call you sweetie!" It was very heart warming to hear so many good things. The entire time up to this point was filled with gratitude and encouragement from all involved in the contest. i really can’t think of another time where i felt so appreciated.

Once we were able to escape we went straight to the bar. NOW we can have a drink and celebrate not winning!
So the whole contest was a very interesting and a growing experience. Although i didn’t want to do this i DID learn a lot about myself, about our relationship and about people in other communities. i also realized that almost everything we do together is Master in the spotlight but this was a time when it was what we have together that was the main event. We do have something very special together and i’m glad we had an opportunity to share this with a few others.

i have said to Master "please don’t ever make me do this again." By Sunday night i had the worst headache i think i’ve ever had. It was a post stress headache. my body was NOT happy with me in the least.

i am quite confident that we did our best in this event. Like i said we are both the type of personalities that like to win. We did win in a way. We did a HUGE thing together and we came out of it glowing. i’m thrilled we didn’t win. It’s not because we’d have to talk in front of people. It’s because i know that financially this would have been a very bad thing for us. Raising funds for travel would have been really difficult.

We can still get something together to teach and i’m sure that would be welcome at any event. We’ve already had an invitation to return to the Bay Area to do just that. We put ourselves out there and i think we are both proud of how we represented not only our M/s relationship but our community. More people now know where Eureka is!