A Bubble Off Plumb

In Watonga, we have a quiet giant walking among us. If you know, you know, but he would never tell you.

In the time I have been in town, one citizen has never hesitated to throw bouquets my way. If the paper or something I wrote won an award, I could expect a visit, a letter or a phone call and sometimes all three.

This man never blows smoke. Everything he does or comments on is well thought out. He raises everyone around him up by commenting on what an excellent job they have done, even if their work seems ordinary. And it doesn’t matter if you are an educator, a newspaper editor or a ditch digger. It has been noted and commented on.

Have you ever met a fellow who perpetually walks on the sunny side of the street? He does. What about someone who is as colorblind as anyone I have ever met and willing to overlook the inborn, unknown biases we all carry? And as a product of the 1950s and ‘60s, I am willing to bet he has plenty of legitimate reasons to hold a grudge against those who are not the same race as him.

Someone who is a journalist, a veteran, an educator, a minister and who attributes his success and abilities to the mentors who showed him the way and to God that endowed and developed in him with the caring heart he shows to our community and to the world.

This man, even in the depths of his grief, was able to write such a clear portrait of his friend that anyone who read it felt like they knew Chris Bordelon.

By now, everyone knows I am speaking of Carle King. Our community is going to honor him for pioneering excellence with an event at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 6 at the Lucky Star Casino. The reception is sold out, but probably if you wanted to show up, shake his hand and congratulate him, you won’t be turned away.

The recognition is well deserved, probably overdue and we should all thank the folks who came up with the idea. It allows us to throw a few bouquets of our own before the opportunity passes us by.