I must admit, I have had a hard time wrapping my head around what took place last Thursday night – November 13, 2014 – when I attended the Monticello Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Dinner at the Best Western in Monticello. I was told that I had been nominated for the 2014 Monticello Citizen of the Year Award, so thinking I would be a gracious “nominee” (and like Susan Lucci always did), I would show up to cheer on whomever won the award. Susan Lucci (Erica Kane on “All My Children” who was nominated 19 times before actually winning the Emmy for Best Leading Actress in a Daytime Drama – and then nominated 2 more times and never won again - for a total of 21 nominations and only 1 win), was always very gratefully about being nominated and always said what an honor it was to just be nominated, I also felt very honored to be nominated – and never thought that I would actually win. However, when it came time to give out the award, presenter, John Foreman, the News-Gazette Publisher, began talking about the 2014 recipient and I realized he was talking about me! I must say that I began to panic because I knew I was going to have to get up and say something! I started trying to gather my thoughts and missed most of what he said about me! LOL!!! Only when the applause began did I realize that he was finished and everyone in the room was looking at me and it was time for me to go up and accept the award! Our table was one of the last couple of tables to get to eat during the dinner, so I was still eating my dessert when it was time for the awards. I was frantically trying to think of something to say and also trying to get the last bits of chocolate brownie cake out of my teeth! What was I going to say? I really didn’t feel like I deserved this type of award! Since I was sitting at a table in the very back of the room, I had a distance to walk to the podium. I walked by a table filled with ladies from the Kirby Auxiliary – all of whom I knew and had worked with over many years for many projects. Apparently some of them had something to do with me winning this award. I did not know that at the time. But I felt comfort in seeing their smiling, friendly faces as I began my trip to the stage. What was I going to say……………………………………. To be really honest – I do not remember what I DID say, it is all kind of a haze in my mind – but was thinking on the way up that I was probably the least likely of everyone in that room to deserve such an award! But there were a couple of things that popped into my head on the way up and I hope I said them – but am not sure! So just in case – this is what I was thinking on my way to the podium: Because I get to fly around the world in one of my jobs, and I get to see some pretty amazing, beautiful and wonderful places all over the world, I often get asked, “Where is your favorite place in the world?” My answer to that question is always the same – “Home – right here in Monticello!” So I thought I should try to incorporate that into my acceptance speech. Did I? I do not know! I do not remember! I hope so! I also thought about my parents and how they would always measure their own lives by what they did for others and how they would urge my sister and me to do the same. Both of my parents did tons of volunteer work and were always helping out in so many ways in our community through all of the many activities they were involved in. They would always say, “Never rest on your laurels. Never quit. Never stop working to make the world and the community you live in a better place.” I have always loved Monticello and feel that this little town is so full of possibility. But we can never rest on our laurels. Never quit. Never stop working to make our community, as well as the world, as better place! I hope I said some of these things! The plaque that I won will be on display at Pearls & More Jewelry starting Wednesday, November 19, 2014. Stop in and check it out! After getting over the shock (and, I must admit – a bit of embarrassment), I am feel very blessed, humbled, grateful and honored to have received this award! journal-republican/news/people/2014-11-18/haworth-citizen-year.html
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:39:42 +0000
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