Write On!

              31 but, this time, our first, was by far the most memorable. Going home, all the women talked a mile a minute, laughed and giggled on a high, all the way and for quite a bit after that. I was surprised what a boost to my morale winning a prize for one of my cakes turned out to be. I was trying to say to myself that it was, really, no big deal - much less than many of the other things I had done. So why the high? For days it was the buzz of the district, each woman involved gaining in stature in the eyes of the community. What a lot of regaling, adding on, joking and boosting! (No press coverage, however.) At one Sunday dinner at a neighbour's house, the hostess asked my husband if he'd like a piece of cake and he replied, "Oh I don't know now - I only eat red ribbon cakes," at which everyone laughed. My family began to taste, evaluate and discuss the food I prepared and I, in turn, tried hard to stand up to their scrutiny. They were enjoying the privilege of eating first prize food, which was really the same food as the food they had taken for granted for so long. Even more dramatically, there was a change in one of our older members. As a young girl she had received a face injury and was a quiet, retiring person, never wishing to get too involved in anything. When our Branch was trying to fill our quota of articles for the competition, we coaxed her to bake some of her delicious tea biscuits which she made with cream. At first she wouldn't hear of it but, finally, not wishing to let us down, she promised to try. It must have been a most difficult decision for her. After she won first prize, I began to notice a change in her. She began to volunteer to help with odd jobs at our meetings, with roll calls and program ideas and then even gave a paper. When our family visited at her home, we were surprised at how she had gained in poise and had become a confident and gracious hostess. Why was receiving acclaim from outside sources such a big deal? I wondered and wondered. I had a fairly good family, often receiving appreciation and recognition from them, as well as from friends and peers. I realized how much satisfaction and happiness I got from it. The appreciation always lifted me. I thrived on it. But what was this special ingredient from outside sources? And I began to think about those who were never appreciated, who were always put down by those around them, always made to feel worthless, their best efforts not noted; some even abused, physically and mentally.