Walk a Mile and Talk to the Governor

                So yesterday was a pretty cool day in my “Do the 52” effort.

                I started off at the shelter, as usual, but in a rush to get a few things done before 11:30. One of those things was a hasty purchase of some women’s shoes that wouldn’t leave me maimed for life. I went more by size than style—if I could get my broad, jungle-spread feet jammed into the pointy toes, they were good enough. I ended up with brown, and low heels.

                Walk a Mile in her Shoes is on the list of 52 things to do this year, so I couldn’t miss it. I raced over to Nebraskaland Bank’s parking lot, where you could tell the difference between the men and the women because the men were dressed up in gorgeous outfits and the women weren’t. I happily made out my check for $100.00 to Rape & Domestic Abuse Program, a service that does a world of good for people in desperate circumstances, and headed off for a mile of tottering.

                I heard that Alan Hirschfeld won best dressed, but Joe Hewgley should have won best-disguised. With his little dog on a leash, his badly placed bright red lipstick and his very uncomfortable high heels, I wouldn’t have known who he was if he hadn’t muttered rather loudly, “These shoes are killing me.” I thought that might be a relevant metaphor for domestic abuse.

                Finishing my race-walk, I ditched my heels, grabbed a hamburger and hotdog and raced off to the community college to give a class of young women my perspective on the effects of using illegal drugs. The contrast was stark, at least in my own mind, having just come from a fundraising effort to help mostly women whose lives have turned out miserably different than the dreams they had as they sat in college classes. Could it be that my comments just might allow even one of those beautiful, bright students to avoid ending up in an RDAP shelter? I’ll never know.

                Class over, I ate my hamburger as I raced to the airport, having heard that Governor Heineman was to give an in-person update on the legislative session. I was stunned to see no more than a small group, many of them media people, waiting to hear him speak, and the only one talking to him as he waited was Dr. Chipps.

                I’m easily intimidated by powerful people. My first inclination was to head for the back of the room and take a seat. BUT! Okay, think of me what you will, but I had my “Do the 52” Passport in my pocket, and I wanted the governor’s signature in it on the line that says, “Give an elected official your perspective.” So taking a deep breath, I approached him and Dr. Chipps was kind enough to introduce me without saying anything like, “This is Ron Snell, and he’s nothing but trouble.”

                Governor Heineman was gracious. I told him that I was the one who’d written the open letter challenging his bill on illegal aliens, and I thanked him for his letter in return. We agreed on the importance of engaging in the debate, in tossing our views into the arena, of opening ourselves up to different opinions and discussing those differences with energy and with mutual respect.

                “Well then,” I asked, feeling like a junior high boy approaching Tom Osborne, “would you sign my Passport?” He was intrigued by it, asked some questions and signed it for me. I told him that the passport was what had motivated me to write the letter, and he hoped that it would encourage others to do the same. During the Q&A I asked a couple of questions about wind power and admitting illegal aliens into colleges and universities. His answers were helpful. I was glad I’d asked.

                Spring is here. Activities are coming at us one after the other. I’ve helped frame a house for Habitat for Humanity, I’ve been to a performance at the high school (The Messiah), I’ve been to speech tournaments, I’ve celebrated St. Patricks Day at The Espresso Shoppe, and more because of that silly little list of 52 things that challenge me to get out of my rut and slurp up every bit of enjoyment I can in North Platte this year. With about nine months left to go, I urge you to plunge in and do the same.  It’s the most fun I’ve had since I arrived in 2000.

                Questions about how it works? Go to plattepost.com and click on Do the 52. Then click on the calendar and check out all of the possibilities as they are posted. And don’t forget to get signatures; more than anything else, they bring you face to face with some special people. As they sign your passport, you can thank them for their service.