When I was a college student, scanning the aisles of the
Party Palace on Garrett Way with other members of the Idaho State Volleyball
team, I never considered that choosing the silly cow suit would come into play
like it did last week.
My friends were beautiful and fit and wanted to dress up
like 1920’s flappers. Flappers were known
for short skirts, excessive makeup, and sporting cigarettes and heels. While contemplating my discomfort showing that
much skin and masquerading in such makeup, the packaged cow suit appeared
before my eyes like a gift from heaven.
I wore it for Halloweens. I surprised friends with a cow-suited
rendition of “Happy Birthday” on my trombone. I got another suit in ’97 to help
raise money for an American Lung Association bike ride with my team called Cows
Against Lung Failure (CALF), and the Cows for a Cure were born when we formed a
team for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in 2005. Five years ago when
our 15 year old team member Ryleigh Thomason died of leukemia, we became
Ryleigh’s Herd.
I tell people about Ryleigh whenever anyone asks me about
the cow costume or whenever I suit up for speaking engagements. I got to tell a
bunch of fifth graders about Ryleigh a couple weeks ago.
Last July, I called the school
district 25 office and had a terrific discussion with their spokesperson
Shelley Allen about school culture, bullying, and character building. Our
conversation dipped into funding challenges and schools’ abilities to provide
counseling and mentoring services. We could have talked until the cows come
home about the roles of parents and schools in the character development of
students.
A few weeks later, Ms. Allen told me about District 25’s new
CAKE award to recognize outstanding Character and Attitude and showing Kindness
and Encouragement to others. She asked if I would be
willing to present the award and deliver cupcakes to the student and their
class in a cow suit. Me? In a cow suit? I’d love to!
I’m a cow who’s as human as the next guy and my character
and attitude can fluctuate with the weather, but by golly, I try to be one of
the good humans. Summoning kindness and encouragement at times when they are
void can feel impossible, but it IS possible, and I sincerely believe it’s
important to convey that to kids of all ages. My young friend Ryleigh would
have been a prime candidate for the CAKE award before and during her fight with
cancer.
I enjoyed meeting the first CAKE recipient, Jefferson Elementary’s
Isabelle Kirkman, and I look forward to recognizing the rest of this year’s
CAKE kids. With each class, I hope to celebrate, share a bit about Ryleigh and
discus how a little kindness—apparently like a silly cow suit—can go a long
way.
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