The deadline for entries at midnight last night passed without the usual flurry of last minute entries for the Peace and Kindness Fourth Annual Memorable Quotes Contest, and the entries were fewer in number this year but overflowing with outstanding quality.  In other words, choice.

The theme of Peace and Kindness was liberally interpreted, I might add, and I was good with that. However, the Daddy Glenn L. Morris Award for Quote Mastery goes to Barbara Embick of Gilbert, South Carolina for her quote and the inspiration of kindness from the woman who gave it to her. Barbara will receive a check of $75. for the following entry:

“One of the people in our town that was frequently in need of help was a guy named Hoagie Hill, don’t know his real name, just Hoagie Hill. Hoagie was probably 40 – 50ish, lived by himself, hermit like because Hoagie stuttered and some of the town people frequently made fun of him or were mean to him. It was quite sad actually. My mother always made sure Hoagie had a meal and always had a friend in her and our family. There was one night as a 5 or 6 year old that I talked to my mother trying to grasp an understanding about why Mom took such extra special care of Hoagie. I particularly didn’t understand because we had a lot of issues ourselves and I guess it seemed like we didn’t have food to spare or the kindness to give. My mother discussed the situation with me and said Barbara, ‘there will always be someone who needs more than we do.’ That’s why the town folk loved her; despite our situation, she always looked for the underdog and she always gave to those in need spiritually and physically. It was a valuable lesson for me and one I always try to live by.

BTW, I loved Hoagie Hill.”

My Old Woman Slow Award for Close but no Cigar goes to Lisa Martin in Montgomery, Texas. Lisa sent not one, but three, quotes and I couldn’t possibly choose one above the other so her prize of $50. goes for all three:

“Kindness is a language that the blind can see and the deaf can hear.” Mark Twain

“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” Steve Maraboli

“Kindness is just love with its work boots on.” Unknown

The Granny Selma Award for Trying and a check for $25. goes to Ann D’Onofrio of Eagleville, Pennsylvania who also had two quotes from her mother and a circuitous route of connecting them to the theme of Peace and Kindness:

“Here are two quotes from my mother. One sort of fits the theme if you squint, the other…well let me do some mental gymnastics.

One applies to President Kazoo: Mom, trying to give me a sense of perspective, once said about him as a candidate: ‘He chatters through his own teeth.’ She often said that about politicians and religious men, though she was a devout Roman Catholic and Republican. It was her grandfather’s version of ‘he likes to hear himself speak.’ So I guess that’s a ‘kind’ way of keeping one’s inner ‘peace.’ I know…stretch…The next one even more so.

‘I’m living my golden years. I get all the years and my doctors get all the gold.’

So maybe resignation to one’s fate brings peace? She wasn’t one to suffer fools gladly, so this was a way for her to maintain her equilibrium over outrageous medical costs. By the way, Republican that she was, she felt we needed national health care. That was the nurse who saw many years of suffering speaking.

Wonderful, wonderful quotes and fabulous stories from you all and to quote another anonymous “quoter,” your check’s in the mail.

Finally, a Very Special Grand Prize goes to Warren Wood of Dennard, Arkansas who totally ignored this year’s theme but scored HUGE points with the judge with his entry:

“Just because you were elected president doesn’t mean you are presidential.” Sheila Morris

Warren, if you were here, I would give you a big hug and if I were Ellen DeGeneres, I would send you a check from Shutterfly for $10,000. Since neither of those is the case, I will send you a check for $25. and a cyberspace hug.

Thanks so much to all of you for participating in this year’s Memorable Quotes Contest.

Hm…what will we do next year for Cinco de Quotes contest…

Stay tuned. Have a great weekend, everybody.