Jemi spills the beans on…

A week ago, I went to a fancy, gala-style event in Cincinnati on a Sunday night to support Barth Johnson and Boo Singleton of the Butler Lions Club, who were part of 27 finalists nominated for the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center Upstander Awards.

These awards are given in honor of people who stand up for change in their communities, and Barth and Boo were nominated due to their extensive involvement in cleaning up the Licking River and county, as well as taking care of its environment.

Though they did not win, it was certainly an interesting night!

Lexington (where I live) might be a city, but the view from Interstate 75 of the towering skyscrapers as you drive into Cincinnati and over the Ohio River bridge is truly something else.

As I pulled up to Union Terminal, where the event was held, a valet came to get my car, which was the first time I had ever experienced valet parking in my life.

I walked into a huge hall full of tables and people sitting around them in fancy suits and dresses.

And then I was assigned to a table with random Cincinnati folk who were curious as to what I was doing at their table considering all of them knew each other except me.

Needless to say, it was a strange and exciting experience for someone as unimportant as me, especially since I got a free ticket thanks to the kindness of Joel Nahari of Butler, who invited me to come.

He also came to find me before the event started to express his regret that I couldn’t sit together with him and Boo (Barth was not there due to another family event), which was very nice of him.

Since I got the tickets for free, I tried to find information online as to how much it would have cost if I hadn’t.

There might have been a range of prices, but the official press release from the organizers said that early bird pricing was $100 per ticket, which means that this was probably a pretty niche crowd attending the event.

Now, the point of the story: I have given all these details because I want you to visualize going into this grand building and being surrounded by strangers and elites in a big and confusing city.

Then imagine the warm feeling when you suddenly see people you know.

“Pendleton County” was looking sharp in their suits and ties — attire which was common in that terminal.

But in my completely biased opinion, their down-to-earth, good-natured personalities built on practicality, hard work, and love and pride for their community and nation was a rarity even in a room filled with some pretty accomplished nominees and people.

Don’t get me wrong, there were certainly excellent people who embodied these traits in the crowd, but to have a combination of all these values is still unique.

One can be good-natured but not practical or realistic, patriotic but not down-to-earth, and so on and so forth.

Additionally, there is the irony that after an event meant to exemplify love for others and community, someone cut me in line to get his car keys and multiple impatient folks grumbled (some meanly) about the time it took for the valets to retrieve their cars, though the valets were clearly working as hard and fast as they could.

Or maybe it’s just the Pendleton pride speaking now that I’ve been here for a couple of weeks and love the place and residents so much.

Anyways while it was fun to dress up, I think I’m more excited to see Joel and Boo again at the Butler Lions Club river sweep when they’re all muddied up and back on the home turf.

Thank you both and congratulations to Barth and Boo again for being finalists for the awards, it is well deserved.

If there is an event you would like me to attend, contact me through the office number 859-654-3332.