Awards. Prizes. Accolades. Recognition.
This week I muse joyfully on the pause that happens this time of year on many campuses, in gyms and auditoriums: the Awards Ceremony. I muse joyfully on ceremonies marked to celebrate accomplishments, achievements.
And I muse, what are the awards you would like to receive, that you feel you deserve? Is there a ceremony marked for your achievements?
Susan Dromey Heeter
My daughter would like the award for being the “best daughter.” When I asked her to justify her suggestion for this recognition, she remarked, “People enjoy having me at their houses, they say, ‘Jane, you’re the best.’”
When I asked Jake, 15, and Jace, 16, what award they could share together, they both agreed they are the “Best Tea Makers.”
Apparently they make a lot of tea at home and believe their libations to be the best. When my 25-year-old colleague spoke of her recent achievements, she remarked, “I should get the award for ‘Best Transition.’ I moved jobs AND my home this year and both transitions have gone very smoothly. I’d like an award for that.”
I’d like a standing ovation as well as a trophy every time I mail a package at the post office as well as an award for returning library books on time. I’d like an award for surviving May.
May, for me, is long and arduous. The calendar is filled with late nights, meetings, events, appointments, graduations, holidays. In fact, I’m going to make up a trophy right now that reads, “Best May Survivor.”
I’ll set out a red carpet and have it lead directly to my bed, where I’ll have put on fresh, clean sheets and will sleep for a month. And, speaking of, I have a friend who texts me EVERY TIME she changes her sheets.
Really. She’s so thrilled with fresh linens perhaps I’ll make an award for her announcing, “Changed Sheets!” She can take out her trophy when she next performs this task…and celebrate this most glorious accomplishment.
Susan Dromey Heeter
Luc’s a looker, but still didn’t win.
Recent accolades were given to various pets in a photo contest of which I was hoping for an award, anticipating recognition. My dog, Luc, did not win and I was devastated.
Truly. He was a contender for “Most Photogenic” but lost to Oscar the Corgi. Luc is a simple mutt but he looked so beautiful, so majestic with Nubble Maine’s lighthouse in the background, the sun upon his snout.
I was deeply depressed he did not win; Luc was as well. Alas, perhaps that’s part of the process, musing joyfully on the fact that we don’t all win awards, our names don’t always get called, we don’t necessarily win the blue ribbon for either looking majestic or being majestic.
So, dear Joyful Musers, in this season of awards, create your own blue ribbons of recognition, of joy, of clean sheets and mailing a package. Hoorah for you from Joyful Musings – in all things deserving of an award.
Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, writes “Joyful Musings” for InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.