The 2008 Republican National Convention and The 1958 Spring Queen Contest

I'm really, Really, REALLY enjoying the Republican National Convention.

.....and I'm so glad I am.

I was jealous of the Democrats last week. All the emotion and conviction. First time ever a Democrat almost swept me off my feet. They are very winsom folks, this year. I hardly knew McCain. I was feeling like he was a default candidate. I haven't felt that passionate, as the democrats were feeling, since the first year Reagan ran for president and Jeremiah Denton ran for Senator. Wow. That was the first year I truly understood the difference between Repubicans and Democrats. I had read the book, A Time for Truth by "can't think of his name". A very good read for a not super intellectual,me. My parents always voted Republican. Always. My whole extended family did, I think. My brain didn't go in that direction.....I mean, political and government. Debates stress me out - all the arguing and there is no hope for anyone to concede. No reconcilliation. After a debate, one wins, one loses - or its a gray area. I don't know. I like for people to get along and agree that both sides are a little bit right and a little bit wrong. Let me say that if ever there was a non competitive soul, it would be me. I only compete with myself.

How would I like to be?

Well, the answer I know to be true is, "I want to be like Christ". However that is. Whatever it looks like. But - on this day, my impulsive answer is "I would like to be like Sarah Palin." Doesn't that look like fun?! She is so smart and so normal. And she makes such a very good speech. She seems to speak and act from conviction and draws people in - all at the same time. And she is a mother of five. She's 44 and gave birth this same year. She's gifted. It's a calling and probably has nothing to do with Sarah's original choices. Sounds like she didn't even plan to be in this place. She said herself that she never set out to be in an elected office. She followed her heart. I don't know about her faith, or her walk with the Lord, but it wouldn't shock me to learn that she is a solid believer.

When I was very very very young - so young that - well - little - that far back I would say to God, "I'll be whatever you want me to be, only let me be famous". I really wanted it. In the first grade I had my first stage appearance. I loved it. I was candidate for the Spring Queen Contest. The contestant who collected the most money would win. There was a representative from each classroom, grades 1-6. We usually had about 2 classes per grade. That would make us having 12 contestants. I didn't even know about the contest until I was in the first grade. What I didn't know was that it was a fundraiser that the BandBooster Club had invented. The money went to the band. My dad was the band director. I also didn't know that it would be politically incorrect for me to win. I also didn't know until many years later that my granddaddy had asked my mom to please let him load my collections so that I would win. She wouldn't let him. I never put it together that only the wealthiest little girls won. Those moms did allow those dads or granddads to load her collections. When elected by ones class to be the candidate, then each female contestant would select a little boy to be her escort. In the first grade I selected Bill Carleton to be my escort. He was about 3 inches shorter than I. We were buddies. Just friends. He was an artist and so was I - in the first grade - it's what we shared - all the pictures we drew, side by side - he drew guy pictures - army stuff - I drew girl pictures - mommies - babies, high heels - hairdo's - That year I wore a RED evening dress made of netting with white artificial flowers adorning the yoke/collar. The contest was held in the auditorium of the Evergreen City School. No airconditioning. All windows open. Dark, hardwood floors. Not folding, removable metal chairs - Oh no, these were screwed into the floors - wooden. Seats automatically flew up until one was sitting and pushed it down. The velvet stage curtain with the upper case E in the middle valance. If an event was held in this auditorium in Evergreen, it was usually a packed house. This was our Broadway - this was our Kennedy Center for the performing arts. - This was our Evergreen Center for the Performing arts. So, I'm 6. It's spring. And I'm in the Spring Queen Contest. I loved it. The weeks leading up to this, well, we'd have to rehearse. so....Bill and I had the privilege of leaving class for rehearsal. That was the best - only I'll have to admit that the fifth and six graders were somewhat intimidating. I do remember that year that Margaret Hagood was the sixth grade candidate - one of them - I was in awe of her. To make my point, I'll note here that when I was in the 7th grade, Margaret was in the 12th and won Alabama's Junior Miss! That's big stuff for a small town like Evergreen. Our town had a fit. That was in 1963 and the Junior Miss Contest was a pretty big deal. Anyway, I can remember staring at her during rehearsal when I was in the first grade and she was in the 6th. I also remember staring at her escort. He seemed soooooooo big and grown. I don't even remember who he was. He seemed very handsome to me. He and Margaret were like Hollywood.

Okay - back to me. I loved the contest. I have a memory of standing on the stage as they were about to announce the winner. I remember BEGGING God to let me win. Okay the second runnerup was Spring Queen Princess. I really didn't want that. Just didn't feel right. So, they'd announce her first - Then Queen. I didn't win. Seems like Margaret might have won, but I don't really remember. When my name wasn't called, well, such silent disappointment - it was over. But I really did recover pretty quickly. I do remember Daddy coming up on stage to retrieve me after the end - all parents did that for the little bitty ones - and meeting Ann Gilmer and her mom, on the side aisle, who offered their condolances - saying they'd been rooting for me. That's what Mrs. Gilmer said, that she and Ann had been rooting for me. Daddy thanked them. I really just wanted to move past them and go home. Mother said that as I was climbing out of the back seat of the car, when we got home, I said, "I wonder what I'll wear next year" - and she thought, "Well, that's confidence". So - a year later - I was elected again by my class to be candidate from that room. I understood the system a little bit better. I would have to work even harder to earn money. Still didn't know about the family thing with the money. I picked Charlie Wild that year to be my escort. I was in love with him. Loved him. We were in the second grade. He seemed at least 25 to me. We got quite an applause that year. Charlie was from a wealthy family, which I didn't even know about all of that. Seems like his folks would have padded the jars of money. They didn't. Charlie was also funny, and quite the character. As we approached center stage, he forgot when we were supposed to walk off. I had to tug at his arm, and at that point he turned left with me. The audience laughed very loudly. I really liked the way the attention felt. I still didn't win. My skin was getting a bit thicker by then. Reality was beginning to set in. The next year, in the third grade, on the day we were to nominate and elect a candidate, I raised my hand - Mrs. Petrey acknowledged me and I stood to say, "My mother told me I can't be candidate this year". I don't know what went through Mrs. Petrey's head - maybe something like, You little scamp - who said you would be elected - I don't know what she thought - imagine my arrogance at assuming I would be elected. My best friend, Ellen Nix, was candidate that year. I didn't represent my class again until fifth grade. I was older and didn't expect as much. I still enjoyed the event, immensely - and I still didn't win. By then we had added to the event of Spring Queen Contest. The women of the Band Booster's Club had come to Daddy and told him they wanted to begin having a beauty contest. Tickets were sold. That was the fundraising part. He said okay. Here's the deal. Daddy, being a perfect tenor soloist, was asked to sing "Miss Evergreen" to the winner. The contestants were 10th - 12th grade. I knew Daddy would consider it too corny to sing that song, same as the Miss America song, by Burt what's his name - only it would have to be "Our Miss Evergreen" for the syllables to fit. I knew my Daddy had more class than to corn it up by singing that in our small town. Well, guess what? He agreed to sing it. Said he had no choice, when I protested - these ladies were working on behalf of the band to raise money - and he had to cooperate. ugh. I thought I would die - but in the end - I actually liked the way it all played out. A lot of drama and intensity. Snooky Turk was our first Miss Evergreen. So exciting. Again, the Evergreen City School auditorium - and if you think it was packed for the Spring Queen Contest - well - people were lining the side aisles and all in the back - and the heat and humidity - well - we were hoping for a breeze through the windows - I don't know if we got it. It doesn't matter. It was a great night.

But it's 2008. God didn't choose for me to be famous at all. The famous thought dominated my brain throughout my childhood. I might have assumed it in high school. College was a reality - and I began to wonder how it would happen. By singleness in my twenties I was just trying to live out my daily life. I love my life. I am amused at my child thoughts and deals with God - I was serious. I said anything, to HIM who rules the universe - who made it - I said anything, as long as I'm famous. Of course we all know that is the ultimate, unabashed self centeredness - the "it's all about me" attitude - I wanted the focus to be on me. I wanted the spotlight to be on me. I have listened to sermons by Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian in New York City - and that thing in humans who love the applause of the world - He likens it to our looking for the applause of Heaven - which we do have, in Christ. In Christ, buried in Christ, we have the ultimate applause of the One who made us, who made the world. I love it.

I am excited about our Republican candidate John McCain - I heard his heart, the other night. He won my heart - and we all were won over by Sarah Palin, last night, in her acceptance speech - all of us who lean that way - who knows who will win - I don't worry anymore - it's God who controls History - we do what He calls us to do - and in the end - He chooses our leaders.