SHAFTED

As promised, here is my sad tale:

I was recently nominated for Volunteer of the Year for Osan. A lot of people worked very hard on the nomination paperwork, and I am very appreciative (it's an honor just to be nominated, doncha know?). The form required 16 'bullets' or accomplishments, and the highlight of my form was the Newman's Own Award we won, and the garden and other projects implemented with the money. The Newman's Own Award is very prestigious, and the garden is fabulous. The rest of the form was filled with my more minor volunteer activities (thrift store, OSC board and etc.)

I got all dressed up for the ceremony, with tights and shiny shoes and everything, got a babysitter, and met Lloyd there. The presenter introduced each nominee and read a short description of his or her volunteer highlights. When she got to me, she mentioned two of my lesser volunteer posts, and then finished up, smirking, with my volunteer stint at the Air Show last fall where I staffed the Lost Children Booth. People LAUGHED at this last one. There was nary a mention of the Osan Parent Network, the $5,000 from the award that has been plowed back into Osan Air Base, or the brand new garden, or the other things on my form. I felt like I looked stupid, like I didn't even deserve to have been nominated, and my feelings were hurt.

I didn't win, of course. It would have been NICE to win, but I didn't really EXPECT to win. People like me don't win things like that, which is a sad story for another day (or not, because it's probably not even the worth the wear on my keyboard). No, I am demoralized for two reasons:

1. 'They' made me look stupid and hurt my feelings; and

2. It's possible for 'them' to even get to me like that. It's not like I expect anything better after all this time, and yet, I guess I did.

Funny, I feel better now. I'm just glad I didn't waste any lipstick on that shaftstravaganza.