On Wednesday, November 2nd, 2005, Glamour Magazine hosted their 16th Annual Women of the Year awards at Lincoln Center in New York City. The evening was all about inspiring and empowering women. Healthy, adventuresome, soulful, courageous women were honored. From Goldie Hawn to Catherine Zeta-Jones to a brave woman from Pakistan, each woman honored on Wednesday evening was indoctrinated into a rare sorority called The WOTYs.

Catherine Zeta-Jones, "Glamour" Dec. '05 Cover Shoot

This year, Glamour celebrated twelve WOTYs.

The best dressed, most "rugged elegant" men and women of the night included a pregnant Brooke Shields (Brooke and Chris Henchy's second child is due next spring), the "Killer Talented" Catherine Zeta-Jones, Catherine's and Hollywood's leading man Michael Douglas, "The Comeback" tennis star Venus Williams, "The News Source" CNN's international reporter Christiane Amanpour, the former leader of Ireland Mary Robinson, supermodel tsunami survivor Petra Nemcova, soul singer Mary J. Blige, teenage actress and one of the "Most Wanted" singers Hilary Duff, a "wrap" artist of a different kind, fashion "Style Powerhouse" designer Diane von Furstenberg, international movie star and "A Lotus Grows in the Mud" author Goldie Hawn, and co-host "Glamour Man" William Wackermann.

Catherine Zeta-Jones & Goldie Hawn, 2005 WOTYs

Four summers ago, Tim and I took our family to Italy for the first time, which included a train ride from Verona to Venice. I remember the train ride well because my daughter, who was six at the time, read Harry Potter to me all the way to Venice.

Upon our arrival, Tim looked at the clouds overhead and then said, "We have approximately fifty seconds to get across that bridge and under cover before rain falls." He was spot on. Fortunately, we took cover right in front of the most delicious take-out pizza place. We all indulged in our first slice of Venetian pizza and waited from the rain to stop. When it did, we stood in the sunshine and sang The Beatles' Here Comes The Sun. This photograph captured by AFP photographer Filippo Monteforte not only reminded me of that magical moment, it made me want to book the next flight to Milan and train ride to Venice.

The 51st International Art Exhibition, Venice Biennale

Tomorrow the 51st International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, opens to the public. It is the first time, in the history of the exhibition, that a woman is running the show.