The Community Times Dispatch

What a wonderfully entertaining and enlightening meeting! You talk about making no apologies and dispelling all forms of regret and misgivings! That is Ken Burger! The inside jacket of Swallow Savannah reads, “…Burger graduated dead last in his class at the University of Georgia, has been married five times, is a gratefully recovering alcoholic, a cancer survivor and a happy man.” Yes, it really, really says that!!

Isn’t it wonderful not to live in the shadow of or be permanently scarred by life’s mishaps and our own shortcomings? Isn’t it super to move beyond the hand that life has dealt you, reshuffle the deck, take another round of cards, and strive to make the most of the newness and freshness that another go at the game give you? What a valuable lesson we learn from the words and the sentiments inside the book jacket. Boy, if we can learn that much just by reading the words that fall below the picture, just think of what we can learn if we actually pick up the book! Well, I am grateful that I will have that opportunity because I received my own copy of Swallow Savannah as one of my birthday surprises! If you look hard enough in and around the ?Boro and the surrounding area, you will have the same opportunity, so get on it doggone it!

I first met Ken after I returned from the Inauguration in January. We were both invited to appear on “The Savage Report” to talk about the historic events in Washington. There were several of us in the studio that day to tape the show. I watched as Ken purposely went around the room and introduced himself to each of us. Not only did Ken introduce himself to us, he deliberately made sure that we introduced ourselves to him.

Did you get that? Introductions should be mutual…reciprocal, you know? I tell you about me, you tell me about you. Anything short of that is a little arrogant, a lot high-minded, and so totally aloof. Reciprocal introductions mean that I want to tell you about me just as much as I want to hear about you. I might do something important, but I also want to know how important you are. Now do you get it? One-sided introductions convey the sentiment that, “I am so-and-so, and I’m not concerned about who you are.” See the arrogance in that?

Anyway, in those few short moments while we were waiting to go up and recall our adventures in Washington with Mr. Savage and the viewers in TV land, with a firm handshake, a conscientious “eye lock,” and a keen ear, Ken seemed to say, “I am Ken Burger, now you tell me who you are.” What a wonderful first impression! Because I am such a “Nosy Nancy,” I had to know more. Trust me, in that short period of time, I learned more than 500 words and my space in the Dispatch will allow me to say…for right now, anyway. Stay tuned! In the meantime, I say that “Ken Burger is the man!”