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This is a question that my singing partner, Monica and I ask at many of our Sparkle Sisters shows. We even have audience members write down their answers so we can share them. The answers, some of which I’ll share later, always inspire and surprise us. But even more surprising was something that happened to me last Friday when I was walking with my friend, Jeannie. We took a route through the village and ended up at a beautiful spot in Kenilworth overlooking Lake Michigan. We noticed a group of women gathered in one corner, animately talking to each other and sipping coffee. Curious, I went over to them and asked what brought them all there. “We gather here once a year to pray and drink coffee by the beach,” one of them explained. “We’re from St. Francis Women’s Club in Wilmette.”

“Oh, I know you. I sang a cabaret show for you earlier this year,” I excitedly replied. One of the women looked at me, paused, and said, “It’s because of you that we’re here.” Mustering as much intelligence as I could, I replied, “Huh?” “Yes,” she said. “You asked us what makes us sparkle and one of the replies was drinking Starbucks coffee at the beach, so here we are for the second year in a row.”

I was speechless and I felt tingles, the kind you get when you know something ordinary and extraordinary is happening at the same time. It wasn’t about me or our singing, it was the fact that a message had gone out that had caused these women to grow deeper in their commitment and connection to each other. How very cool is that? Here are some of the other responses that women have shared with us along the way:

“Life.”
“My grandchildren.”
“Good music and good friends.”
“Gold.”
“My daughter saying, ‘I love you, Mom.’”
“My new eye shadow.”
“Being open and creative and sharing with folks who are open and creative.
That really makes me sparkle.”
“My inner spirit, which shines like a diamond.”
“Sunshine and good friends.”
“Bubble Bath with ‘Lush’ bath products, my 3 kids,
husband and the dog, by candle light. Champagne
and chocolate optional.”
“Besides sex? My family, sitting by the fireplace,
getting up early in the morning and knowing
everyone is safe and asleep, a glass of wine with my
husband at the end of the day.”
“Dancing ~ especially close together. Walking on the
beach together.”
“The smell of a crisp, winter morning. The golden
sun streaming through a stained glass window. My
children’s smile.”
What makes you sparkle? I know that last Friday, the
St. Francis Women’s Club made me sparkle!