Last night was the night of Hollywood recognition, the STATUE night. I have to say, folks, I could only stay with it for bits and pieces and the snippets I watched did not impress me. Maybe it is my aging attitude but I could care less about who is wearing whom, how long it took for Katherine Zeta Jones to pick a dress or whether Michael Douglas had a say in her choice. It is wonderful that Jane Fonda looks thirty-two and if I had a trillion dollars, I would look thirty-two also! I just found the whole evening to be so filled with their self-importance and hype and it bored me. I am sure the movies that won Oscars were grand indeed and worthy of recognition but at the end of the day, they were just that, movies, entertainment.

I was thinking I could give out some trophies of my own for accomplishments that improve the lives of others in a direct and lasting way. The first one I would have given would have gone to my dear neighbor Una Mae Hyatt. I already told you all what amazing, giving and caring soul she had and how she lived as she believed. As evidenced by the loving friends at her funeral, she was a testament to walking a path of honest loving kindness.

I would present a statue to our Police Chief, Ray Riggs, because I think the man was born being a service to people. In the almost seven years I have lived here Ray has not once disappointed, wavered, or been anything but the greatest of help, service, kindness and understanding. He is a man of few words, doesn’t waste time, his or anyone else’s and takes his job to protect the people of this town seriously. It cannot have been easy living in such a small space doing the job he has to do and I am sure there are many days he has questioned his sanity for doing it. Yes, Ray Riggs definitely deserves the honor.

I would give every volunteer fire-fighter and ambulance staff a statue because what they do for this community is priceless. The less time they take picking out what they are going to wear the better it is because every second counts. They try to keep a carpet from flowing with red and to douse flames that don’t rise up in a lover’s heart. They fight battles in a real world and they have an enormous impact on our community.

I would have a special group of statues for the best teachers. Teachers like Tracey Thomas who offers their students endless possibilities. From those who take children into their home in the pre-school years to introduce them to colors, constructive play and social learning all the way to high school teachers are one of our greatest and most prized assets on earth. The cost of one Oscar dress could be a pay raise for every teacher in the San Saba School District and would be a far more worthy investment.

Perhaps I am getting old thinking the Oscars are too opulent, to over the top, a bit of a sledge hammer of look at me aren’t I wonderful! Maybe it is just all those old childhood messages from my mom I was taught playing in my head…don’t call attention to yourself….don’t be a show off. I do know there is still a lot of that osmosis British person left inside me. I don’t think I am wrong about this though. I loved the days of Audrey Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn when Hollywood was more subdued and grateful. I think people were more grateful in general back then and did not feel nearly as entitled as they do now. Well, I think I shall feel entitled to say that I love you and will speak to you all again next week. I shall stay away from red carpets, long gowns and heels..I can’t write with a broken neck!