“Hey, great speech.” “Best speech all night.” “Good jokes.”

As I walked into the house late Saturday early Sunday, people praised to me the speech I had written for someone to accept an award on my behalf. Maybe my speech was that good or maybe their experiences were confounded by any drinking they had been doing late Saturday.

I missed the Founders’ Ball for my chapter, where I had been awarded the alumni award. I worked Saturday night to cover Earth Hour and I shot a video of a candle-lit walk at a housing co-op.

I had an inkling that I might get the award when Levi e-mailed me to remind me to RSVP shortly after the voting for awards had ended.

Levi called Saturday afternoon. He confirmed my win and asked whether I wanted to write an acceptance for him to read. I had already considered a few lines.

Here is my opening:

Thank you for this award. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you tonight.

If anyone has space on his digital camera, I’d appreciate if you could take a video, so I can see my speech later and make sure it was read properly.

(wait to see whether anyone volunteers)

Then I continue:

Levi, being the very handsome man that he is, . . . (No I’m not joking Ryan actually wrote this) he agreed to read my speech for me. Thank you Levi.

Two years ago, at the Founders’ Ball, our chapter awarded me the Unsung Hero award. Clearly, with this award I become even less deserving of that award.

Nonetheless, I appreciate the recognition.

Then my speech got preachy. I won’t include those parts here.
The award is called the bridge builder award and refers to the poem by Will Allen Dromgoole called The Bridge Builder.

You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide- Why build you a bridge at the eventide?”

[...]

“There followeth after me today, A youth, whose feet must pass this way.

[...]

He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.”

So, the award is about making things easier for those who come after you and I exhorted others to follow my example, that is to follow the example of someone good.

Here was my closer:

[...] I walked up and saw some garbage on the lawn. I rolled my eyes. “This house is so messy,” I thought.

Rajan Shah had also just arrived. He walked up, cleaned up the garbage without hesitation.

So, there Rajan set an example for me.

[...]

I’m glad I waited until after getting this award to tell that story.

Have a great night.

Heh, heh.