Go, Me!

Being recognized by one's peers, for......whatever reason, can be humbling, wonderful, awkward (if you're me),  and quite surprising.

Last night was my master naturalist's Christmas Party.  I am in charge of the entertainment committee.   I, along with many creative and hardworking friends, whipped up a fun little time.  The decorations, entertainment, and food were all excellent.  I love that we have it at the Freund Center at Shaw Nature Reserve.  Building a nice fire in the oversized fireplace in the quaint hunting lodge makes it  cozy and cheerful.

During our annual Christmas Party, we also give out awards. If you volunteer and take advanced training for a certain number of hours every year, you get that year's pin.  This year's pin is a Regal Fritllary.  It is really lovely.  I received this pin as well as a special dragonfly pin for completing 500 hours of volunteer service.  Yay!

A few women in the chapter got together to give a few fun awards to people.  They dressed up as  Mrs. Claus and elves, and put on a clever skit.  It was really darling.  I was the lucky recipient of a fun award.  It was accompanied with a little write up about me:

Kim Hammerstone has been our Entertainment Chair since Miramiguoa began in 2009.  She's like the perfect hostess, "serene on the surface and paddling like heck under the water!"  So thanks to her for keeping us on track with the food!  We love eating-and so to you goes the Bear with a Heart Award.

My friend, Matt, quickly pointed out that my bear had a "heart on".  I pointed out that my bear was also sporting a pearl necklace.  It seems I actually received the "Naughty Bear Award".   I'm cool with that.

Immediately following this, we quickly had our normal chapter awards.  The month leading up to the Christmas Party, we email nominations for "Miramiguoan of the Year" to the executive committee.  This year, for the first time ever, there was a tie.  I was pretty darn surprised to hear my name announced as Miramiguoan of the Year along with my friend Lil.  I do a lot of work with Lil and have nominated her in past years.  I was proud to be selected along with her, by our peers.  Crazy.

I received a framed certificate that also includes a short write up about...how great I am?  Kidding.  There are a few quotes from the emails sent in by the generous folks that nominated me.  So,  this is how it reads (goodness!):

Miramiguoan of the Year 2012

Kim is always cheerful and makes it hard to be grumpy about anything when she is around.

This certificate is awarded to
Kim Hammerstone
in recognition of valuable contributions to:

Kim is always willing to take on responsibilities when we can't find anyone else.  She does a wonderful job of organizing the entertainment committee and we have a reputation of being the most fun chapter so she has a lot of responsibility there!

Although I don't know everything that Kim volunteers for during the year, she is our faithful person in seeing that we always have that meal at our meetings and events and has been doing so for several years now!

The award features our ugly fish emblem and is signed by the executive committee.

 So.... It is a very lovely sentiment.  I just kind of don't feel that deserving of it.  I mean, I'm "cheerful and feed people" and I pick up the slack when necessary.  I delicately told Eric this morning that I felt a little uncomfortable being recognized for this.  Appreciative, YES!  Also, maybe a little surprised how others view/value me.

He didn't judge me when I shared this.  He picked up my award and read it. Then, as he set it back down, he looked at me, and said simply, "You're the Holiday Cheermeister."  As if it were the most obvious thing in the world.  He said the absolute one thing that could make me truly accept this award.  I AM the Miramiguoan of the Year.  I AM a Bear with a Heart (on).  And I AM the Holiday Cheermeister.   I finally get it.