What I have discovered as each year passes is that it really determines where you are or what your situation is in determining who the most important person is. On Friday evening, on her way to a friends wedding, my daughter's car decided not to crank as she sat at the gas pumps at Obie's Chevron in Clinton. She called me and stated in a matter of fact way, "My starter has blown up on my car. It won't crank". Fortunately, her car was right next door to my office and fortunately starters don't blow up. I went next door with jumper cables in hand.
Upon quick inspection it became apparent that the battery clamp was broken. I looked up just in time to see David, a mechanic at Obie's as he stepped out the front door of the convenience store on his way home. I asked David if we tried to duct tape the clamp to the battery if it would work. He stated that it might, but that it also might catch on fire and then he said, "Pull it around to the back."
David in quick manner replaced the clamp and advised us to run by when the shop was open and pay for the clamp. David worked on the battery clamp when he really didn't have to. At that moment, it was obvious that David was the most important person in the area. Had the Governor driven up with his motorcade to fuel up, for my needs, David would have still been the most important person there.
Each and every day, we meet people who are important in their own right. Perhaps it is the cook that prepares our meal or the housekeeper that cleans our hotel room or the nurse who keeps our loved ones well. Maybe it is the teacher that educates our children, the public works employee who helps to keep our city running smoothly or even something as basic as a good mother or father. All just doing their jobs. Generally, these are people of very little power but people who make a big difference and who are important.
Let the networks and the rest of the media spotlight the most known and "important" deaths of 2012, but for all of us, it is important not to look at wealth, power and prestige in determining the importance of a person. Let's not judge importance by celebrity but by the true worth and character of a person. Each person is important to someone or some group of people for one reason or another. We should always celebrate these people with kindness and thanks and even a good tip. We should do this because it is important. In doing so, we celebrate the importance of the living rather than the dead.
