7-Sep-08 11:00 AM CST

From the Editor

From the Editor
by Mike “Lionman” Leone

Each year at this time, I look back, in response to the community’s annual presentation of the Ron Hering Award. This event always evokes memories for me. One reason is that I was the grateful recipient of the award in 2003. I didn’t print anything about it in the DRUM because, as editor, I saw it as tooting my own horn. Another example of misplaced modesty, I suppose, and even now I don’t know what else I would have said about it. So I’ll let it go, recognizing that I have finally acknowledged receiving the award.

The greater reason has to do with the events in my life taking place at the same time as the annual presentation in Glen Ivy. The community couldn’t send me to California for me and I couldn’t finance the trip on my own. So I stayed home, berating myself for missing out on this opportunity.

A couple of days before the trip would have taken place, I started hearing a scratching sound coming from around my fireplace. For a while I was hoping it was just my imagination, except that the cats had noticed it also.

Obviously it was an animal, possibly a squirrel, or even a possum, since I had had a possum living in my attic some years ago. I had no clue how to get it out; I just knew I couldn’t leave it sitting in there in mid-July. I decided to dismantle the fireplace, which meant calling someone I hoped would know how to do that. Afterwards, I would figure out what to do next.

I picked up my friend on that Saturday morning and we began taking apart the fireplace. Removing everything we could think of, we were no closer to reaching the source of the sound, which by now had stopped. So I decided to remove some bricks, and for that I would have to call someone who specialized in chimney work.

So I was on the phone frantically explaining to some poor soul that I had an animal in my chimney and needed to get it out before it died. It’s not that I’m such a good guy; I just didn’t want to deal with having a dead animal in the bowels of the house, a situation that you who were around the old lodge a few years ago may remember.

So the guys came out, played with the flue, and I heard screaming coming from the chimney. Then out fell a bird. I figured it was dead, but when one of the guys touched its belly, it drew its legs back in self-defense. Apparently it had fallen into my covered chimney, no small feat. Even if it had had enough room to spread its wings and fly straight up, it couldn’t have escaped because of the cover. The guys told me it was probably just as well that I waited, because if it had been in better physical condition it would have been flying around the house, with the cats in hot pursuit.

My friend was, and still is, embarrassed that he didn’t think just to open the flue; I, on the other hand, felt only gratitude that he would put himself out all day to help someone who was trying to rescue a small animal. So, while he put things back together, I took the bird, whose leg was broken, to the SPCA so they could take it to be healed. On the way over, relieved to be in an air-conditioned car, the bird got some of its strength back and began flying around.

I’m telling this story, a little more than five years later, partly to let go of the sadness I still feel when I picture that little bird, used to being free, trapped in a hot, dark chimney. Mostly I’m telling it to relate the main gift I got from that incident: Initially I was upset with myself that I couldn’t go to Glen Ivy. However, there was a more important reason why Spirit wanted me in Houston; after that incident I never gave another thought to missing out on the trip, other than being glad I did. Another chance to trust the knowledge of the universe

I want to close by honoring Keith Liles, the recipient of this year’s Ron Hering Award. Back then, I was responsible for readying the DRUMs for the post office, a time-consuming task, to say the least. Keith was one of the many men who, over time, stepped up to help me with this task. He and I spent an evening at the old lodge working and getting acquainted. Congratulations, Keith. You are richly deserving of the Ron Hering Award. Having spent time myself working with recovering alcoholics, I know the dedication it requires and the toll it can take. And here you are, making a career of it. Kudos to you, Keith.

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Source: Mike “Lionman” Leone