2008-06 Thoughts on the Tribute Evening

This past week I had the opportunity to learn more about 2 members of our ring. Don Arthur who I must admit I knew precious little about, and of course Bev Bergeron who I am so lucky to know and have learned so much from in the past few years. If only I had known these guys when I was starting out. I would not have made some of the mistakes that I made over the years. If only I had known these guys when I was starting out! Oh how much richer my life would have been for it. Don has done and created things and met people I could only dream of. I never knew his of his rich and I mean RICH history in this business. I know Don as a guy who is always willing to help when trying to figure something out or if you are at the auction and not sure of what something might be Don I always willing to help out if he can. I now have learned so much more about him and am glad of it. Bev, well there is a ton of stuff I knew about Bergeron before. All good as far as I am concerned. But after spending some time listening to him remember and tell us of all that I fell lucky the guy would even talk to me. Here is a guy who has been around in the busines and has so much to offer aside from some great performances but the stories, funny, informative, even scary. What a guy!

I have to say if there was one disappointment in the whole evening it was that it could not go longer. I could have listened to these guys for many more hours. It was a lesson in showmanship and history and CLASS. I was truly delighted to hear what they had to say and truly enjoyed the video montages of their work. Bravo Dan Stapleton for the work you did hosting and everything else. I just wish I had seen more of the younger guys there to hear what was being said. We cannot do what we do if we do not know from where it all came, history is as important and the present and the future. Here is to these 2 guys making more history and for a long time to come. Attention must be paid, as Liz Maupin says, and I will always remember that I know some of the best in the business and that they are part of our ring.


Joe Z