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Monday, August 1, 2011

Awards & Recognition

Do you recall the last time you were awarded a trophy?
What about a bright shiny ribbon?
Have you ever received an engraved crystal goblet, or a silver platter?

I must have been in Elementary School the last time I got a trophy.
Not because I wasn't on a winning team,
but because softball league moved away from giving individual trophies to giving team trophies.
Perhaps it was the expense.
Perhaps it was because of people's attitude.

I distinctly recall a change in societies attitude from one of
recognizing the highest achievement to,
recognizing everyone regardless of their achievement.

When that shift was made, it became too expensive to give every player a trophy.
The players all got a ribbon instead.
But when you grow up getting a bright shiny new trophy to add to the trophy shelf,
some how a ribbon doesn't quite seem the same.

Growing up in a big family made for a big trophy shelf.
My dad had trophies for drag racing, bowling and softball.
All us kids had trophies from softball, baseball, basketball and such.
There were so many medals and ribbons awarded to my siblings for swimming that I couldn't begin to tell you how many they had.

I am probably the LEAST competitive member of my family.
And being recognized and awarded for doing well isn't something I seek.
I don't need much praise, nor am I one to look for a lot of 'pats on the back'.
But I do like to feel valued.

I like to feel as though I am appreciated for what I do.
I know I have blogged in the past about the lack of appreciation and value I receive as a mother.  Clearly there are no trophies, medals, or ribbons for making sure there is food on the table, clean clothes to wear, or for paying the bills.  And to be fair, I don't praise my kids often enough.  Mostly I get on to them to do their chores, clean their rooms, or pick up their shoes.
And I'm not necessarily advocating for more trophies, medals or ribbons for doing what one is supposed to do in their day to day life.

But as I found myself in Bardy Trophy & Supplies in Portland today,
I couldn't help but think back to the last time I received recognition,
appreciation or an award of any sort.

And then I remembered....

It was many years ago, at least 20 years because I recall I only had 4 children then.

We went to a party,
a "Support Wild Life" party, over Christmas break where they held a leg-wrestling competition.
And I won!
It was in the Heavy Weight Womens' division, but I won.
And it came with a nice sized trophy too.

The trophy sat on a shelf for a few years collecting its fair share of dust and dirt.
I don't know if it is still around in a left over box from our move 5 years ago,
in a Goodwill store,
or on someone else's shelf collecting dust.
But I do remember winning the trophy and how proud the kids were of it, even though they had no idea  what leg-wrestling competitions even were.

Maybe what I like about Awards and Recognition is the feeling that comes with working hard, achieving something, and having others appreciate your effort.

I guess I just have to learn to get that feeling without the trophy.
Because I hate dusting and would never win an award for cleanliness.



Right Matt!

















- Posted by DWNTWN

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Living up to my Blog; turning 50 & the OBF

July 31st! ? !  
Already?
Going..., 
         Going..., 
                   and almost Gone
are my summer months.

I haven't even had time to blog about the activities and fun we've been having.
So tonight I sat down to try to live up to what I intended my blog to be about...

Exploring new places, 
meeting new people, 
and discovering a few brew pubs along the way.

I have been trying to decide where to begin and how to share the adventures and mis-adventures of the past 13 days.

Do I begin with Juan and Jenelle's visit from North Carolina?

Or do I begin with our adventure of volunteering for the Oregon Brew Festival in Portland? 






Maybe I should begin with  
Baby Gabe, 
Juan & Jenelle's first visit to 
Silver Falls State Park
 and
Discovering, and tasting our 1st Salmon Berries.

Perhaps I begin with Jeff's 50th birthday. 


After all it was Jeff's approaching birthday that led me to invite family and friends to join us for the Oregon Brew Festival. 

Months ago as Jeff's birthday approached I thought, "what better way to commemorate 50 years of life than with good friends, good food, and good beer?" 


I was hoping a number of friends and/or family might be able to join us.

Having Juan & Jenelle come from North Carolina was terrific.
I especially enjoyed our dinner at sunset on the coast.

Having Aimee & Mike move to Oregon and be able to join us was BONUS.


Add in Chris and Dan, along with our new friends Theresa and Jamie from North Carolina....

And we had ourselves a grand celebration!

Oregon is a great place to visit, 
and an even better place to live.  

Within 50 miles in any direction there are wonderful sights, 
and cities, 
and brew pubs to explore.

I am glad we had an opportunity to do so with family and friends this past week.


If you want to check out the photos of all the adventures, mis-adventures and Oregon Explorations from the past week or two, 
you can find them on my mobile me gallery:







I can't wait to see what adventures are ahead for August.



















Steppin' out with DWNTWN
DWNTWNimages.me