Over the years I have managed to hone only a few skills, one of them being the knowledge of what the word hone means. And that's about it.
OK, one other thing.
I have honed my senses to a point where I can sort out the people I encounter in fairly rapid fashion. I blame my profession for that because you see in this game, we get all sorts of characters crossing our lines of sight. We get to see and hear the users and abusers and the cynics and skeptics. We get the hilarious and the absurd, the meek and gentle and the bombastic roarers. We have the privilege of sitting in and listening to the most clever among us as well as the very stupid and ignorant.
Over this period of time, I have learned never to fall for a first impression.
"
I've heard the sob stories and the tales of accomplishment, heroism and abject failures. It's all interesting and really, the people are interesting too. I haven't really met a totally dull person in my life. I've visited with a few who made me feel uncomfortable and unwanted ... but they haven't been dull or boring.
But like all of us "normals," I prefer to negotiate with the interesting ones.
Last week we said farewell to one of those.
Sallie Pierson left us ... Sallie, the lady who lied to me.
I won't profess to have known Sallie as a close and fast friend, but she was one funny acquaintance.
A few years ago while I was on the board of the Estevan Art Gallery and Museum, Sallie came aboard as our director at a very sensitive and difficult time. The EAGM, along with all other exhibition centres had lost its federal funding and we were floundering. Sallie stepped up and stepped in and along with sidekick Kendra and their genuine sense of community, they turned things around.
Sallie used her unique sense of humour and ability to pragmatically wheel and deal to first save and then repair the EAGM's very foundation.
"This gallery will not fail," I can recall her telling me during a one-to-one discussion in her office.
It didn't.
It began to blossom.
That is why I was surprised when she called me to the gallery out of the blue one sunny day to tell me she was stepping down. The gallery had grown to a new level.
"I don't have the credentials. You need someone now who has that arts or administration degree."
As was her style, Sallie had a candidate picked out for recommendation. And once again she was right on. The board merely needed to put a stamp of approval on the whole matter. And we did.
Again, she had done the homework. There was no floundering around for her. The volunteer base had been rejuvenated, thanks to her personality and willingness to engage.
The EAGM's foundation had been restored.
She turned her attention to other projects ... her family, friends who needed her craziness and giggles ... her organizational skills and attitude.
But I can't get over the fact she had lied to me.
You see, Sallie had all the credentials anyone would have ever wanted.
You don't get a diploma for what she had. All you get is respect, smiles and now, a fond memory lodged in a lot of us who knew her enough to appreciate her non-credentialed talents.
