Postmark: March 17, 2005
Earlier this week, Western Folklife Center Executive Director Charlie Seemann, Board Chairman Stan Aiazzi, and poet Linda Hussa traveled to Washington, D.C. to accept the National Award for Museum Service, which the Folklife Center received in 2004 from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.
Linda was asked to participate in the ceremony as a member of the Western Folklife Center community of poets, musicians and artists who had benefited from its programs. First Lady Laura Bush presented the award along with IMLS Director Robert Martin. Linda recorded her thoughts about the ceremony in this virtual postcard.Mom was speechless when I told her that I was going with Charlie and Stan to Washington DC to receive the IMLS Award from First Lady Laura Bush. Then she recovered and said, "Calling Laura Bush the First Lady is redundant. It's typecasting. Duuuuh."
I said I knew that, "But Mom, I'm going to meet her. In person."
"Why you?"
"Dunno, Mom."
"Well, that's nice, honey. Tell her I'm not happy about the war."
Someone said, "Nothing is ever what you think." We've all seen Laura Bush on the news speaking about education and children and I, for one, have been touched by her sincerity. She seems like someone we could know. Like a friend. That wasn't the half of it.
Representatives of the three museums and libraries receiving the IMLS Award waited for the First Lady to arrive at the Hotel Washington Monday afternoon. We were to be given a photo-op while the guests were being seated in the ballroom. Photo-op. Sounds staged. Baby-kissing. Handshakes and push-my-bill-through time. Wrong. We were ushered into a room. Camera ready, focused on a lovely woman standing between two American flags. She turned to greet us each by name. Extended her hand. That smile. Charlie first, then Stan. I was next. Her hand slipped into mine and she said, "Linda. I'm so glad you've come. I'm looking forward to hearing your poetry." My dad used to say I was always talking when I should be listening. Not this time. I was speechless, breathless, in awe. Check out the photos.
Bob Martin, Director of IMLS, Martres Brown, a young man representing the Flint, Michigan Public Library, and I were escorted past a whole herd of Secret Service officers standing nearly shoulder to shoulder to the backstage. We had been invited to sit on stage with the First Lady. Surprise number two.
Mrs. Bush was suddenly beside us. Again she took a personal moment with each of us. She reached for my hand and repeated her pleasure in hearing the poem I would be reading. Knowing there were time constraints, I said I would make it quick. She said, "No. Don't do that, Linda. You take all the time you need. We want to hear what you have to say."
Bob, Martres, and I were introduced and seated. Then, there was a pause before a sudden new energy filled the room. When the First Lady stepped into view the audience rose to their feet and burst into applause. It was as if the teapot finally quit gurgling and sang, as if the cherry blossoms along the Mall burst open in pink radiance, as if someone we all love had returned home.
Laura Bush seemed nearly embarrassed at the outpouring of affection. She motioned us to sit and began speaking. The rest of the ceremony was shaped by her kindness and caring.
The woman before us was us, talking about her love of books, speaking with genuine pride of the work of the recipient museums and libraries. But she was not talking about well-endowed institutions. She was talking about the common people who do the physical work with little or no resources, volunteering their time to better the lives of those in their communities. Each one seeing the need, helping out, teaching children, lifting them up from their meager lives, tipping their eyes up to get a better view the world. She recognized the intention and admired the effort. She encouraged without requesting a thing. True praise.
All of us who have stood before an audience at the Gathering and felt the warmth of acceptance; leaned head-to-head with a workshop master over rawhide strings or dutch ovens or lines of poetry; and have been inspired by men and women who love the West and work to keep it from fading into history, received the award presented by Laura Bush. It was the honor of my lifetime to stand in for you in the presence of the First Lady of this nation.
With sincere thanks,
Linda
