Waddya think?

Suit and tie – what is this world coming to?

Yes, it’s the new me, at least for this week. I had to show off my “official” Hall of Fame professional mug shot taken out in the hall by fellow staffer Bob Burns.

That’s right – I’m famous (Editor’s Note: This is actually a facetious remark and I don’t really think I’m famous. In fact, I kind of think the opposite. Apparently after all these years some people still have a difficult time recognizing my sarcasm in the printed word, like that time I said if you wanted to find out what drinking a couple of bottles of Robitussin would do to you, go ahead and drink a bunch. You see, I didn’t really mean that in a literal sense, if only that guy had read the entire column he would have known that….Oh well, I digress).

I just hope people will recognize me tonight in suit and tie when I take to the stage and receive this esteemed award from the River of Time Museum Foundation.

I’m overwhelmed by this honor because all these past five years of covering the Hall of Fame inductions I never really pictured myself as being a part of the official “Lower Verde River Valley Hall of Fame.”

There are many what I would call “heavy hitters” in the Hall of Fame who have had a tremendous impact on Fountain Hills, Rio Verde and Fort McDowell.

I mean, c’mon – Teddy Roosevelt? I didn’t know the guy, but he did an awful lot back in the day, and to share the same hallowed hall with that dude is really something to behold…

So I am rather humbled that my publisher, Alan Cruikshank, who nominated me for the hall (that’s what new inductees casually call the Hall of Fame, by the way, “the hall”) along with the selection committee that made the final decision on all seven individuals being inducted tonight at the Community Center, feel I am worthy of such a distinct and unique honor.

I know there are many people still living in this town who contributed plenty of blood, sweat and tears over the years to various causes and aren’t in the Hall of Fame.

Maybe some day they will be in “the hall;” maybe not.

Yet I’m confident in saying this – no one truly dedicated to community service and making a difference in this world for whatever cause, movement or organization is doing it for the kudos. They’re doing it because they want to and because the rewards don’t come in the form of medals or plaques or certificates.

I feel honored that various groups have even allowed me to get involved over the years – Valley Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the town’s Parks and Recreation Commission, Noon Kiwanis Club, youth sports organizations, Christ’s Church of Fountain Hills, Sister Cities.

I also believe it’s a fairly common feeling among volunteers and people who make a difference that the experiences and feelings they gain from involvement far outweigh the benefits they contribute to each particular cause.

I hope I’ve been able to contribute at least a little something positive to wherever I’ve been involved…

Of course it is always nice to be recognized and appreciated. The human ego kind of thrives on that stuff. Some are just more susceptible to that disease than others.

And it’s probably a good thing these things don’t come around that often.

This suit and tie is just killing me. I can’t wait until I can change and slip into that Hawaiian shirt….