100 Words, 2026, books, gardening, Uncategorized

I’ll Pass, Thank You

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Laugh. Snort. Guffaw. Giggle. Hoot. Chortle. Snigger. Cackle. Titter.  OK, out of synonyms.

I got an email yesterday that says my work has been noticed and inviting me to apply for the 2026 Who’s Who in America.  Now I’m pretty good at some things and I was very good at my job before I retired but nothing that I think merits inclusion on any published list. 

If I were to be remembered for anything it would be for my parties, my Ukrainian eggs, my gardens, my cards.  Pretty sure that Who’s Who doesn’t give a rip about any of that.

If I’m publishing a Baboon Who’s Who – what would you like listed under your name?

40 thoughts on “I’ll Pass, Thank You”

  3. It looks like I am Anonymous no more. Will be attempting to replace my patriotic doily with kitties later today, we’ll see

    It is odd how having your life as you know it suddenly “end”, yet go on.

    My baboon claim to fame is probably as mom to the son and heir (s&h) these days, although heir to what exactly is a bit of a puzzlement.

    Maybe time to dig in and build some writing skills.

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  5. Hmmm… I agree with Bill. It’s not easy to write about yourself. I feel like I’m writing my obituary.

    I guess I’d be known for being a strong supporter for Rock Bend Folk Festival (It’s still FREE FREE FREE!), and local folk music in general. I’m not known for my own musical abilities (I’m not as able as I once was), but I’d like to imagine that I am.

    I’m just a worker bee from humble origins. I knit and read a lot these days. There isn’t a whole lot more to say.

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      2. Does “who’s who” ask that you pay to be listed? By asking you to write it yourself, they save on employing editorial staff, and by asking you to pay to be listed, they would make their profit. I can’t say for Who’s Who… but I recall, going back more than 40 years, a scheme to get oneself listed in a directory to “America’s top graduates of the year 19XX” that would list you, for a fee, and then you could enter the fact of the listing in your resume.

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        1. I used to get offers to be included and buy a book regularly. I have not ever known any clinical social worker peer who actually asked to be included or bought one of these books. It was an obvious rip off. Plus the wrong group. Surgeons would include themselves and buy the book. Clinical Social workers? Not so much.

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        2. I didn’t click on the link and follow through, but I’m absolutely sure that there would be a money request involved

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  6. I may be know in my Friday Lunch Bunch as a champion non-waster/recycler. If I see (when it’s time to leave) an unused pat of butter still in the foil, I ask for it – it will just go in the trash otherwise. (People now just send them my way without asking.) I take home unused napkins that people have thoughtlessly taken, use them to wipe up kitchen spills (I haven’t bought paper towels in years…).
    People roll their eyes a bit, mind you…

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  8. Who’s Who is a British publication about British people. Marquis Who’s Who is about Americans. Wikipedia says it has become a vanity publication about people who nominate themselves.

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        1. I got that award in 1971, but I do not remember a trophy. Perhaps the felon stole it from me. It is more likely a schoolmate that took it–during a contest when I was playing, she got into my unlocked case and stole all my medals.

          Maybe we should all send in our estimated taxes in old trophies and awards.

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        2. Good Afternoon, Baboons,

          I would like to be listed for the Deviled Eggs that VS likes so much. I could also send in my old 4H record book with my fair ribbons, etc. Or I could send them to the White House in hopes that I am looked upon with favor. (Last night in a Zoom meeting, I was part of a committee selecting 4H scholarship winners. That becomes a “Who’s Who” of Iowa agricultural 4H projects and exhibits. What an impressive group of young people. That is such a happy task.)

          Other than that, I am just happy with things as they are.

          Liked by 5 people

  11. A listing in Who’s a Nobody
    He didn’t try hard enough to fight anonymity. He just discovered a dread disease listed on his health portal and does not know where it came from. He pissed off all the old dead wood teachers on the faculty. He worked the best students so hard in high school they found college easier, according to them. He learned a great many old skills nobody has use for anymore. He fought a losing battle of a few decades to never have sports stars called heroes. He uses and advocates the Oxford coma. He thought somebody should write a self entry.

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  12. The following as a comment from Carolyn Hax’ chat earlier this afternoon. When is enough effort enough?

    Post comments expanded
    An Ode to the Maximum Economy of Ass Poster
    Guest
    1:28 p.m.
    Years ago during this chat, a parent was concerned about their intelligent and capable daughter Half-Assing everything. As the mom of a Half-Ass son, reading this reply stopped me in my tracks:

    “My mom used to get really upset at what she perceived as my half-assing. I’m 48 now, have a PhD and a thriving and influential career, and I still think there is very very little that is worthy of my applying my whole entire ass. I’m not interested in burning myself out by whole-assing stuff that will be fine if I half- or quarter-ass it.

    Being able to achieve maximum economy of ass is an important adult skill. God knows there’s no shortage of women out there wearing themselves to nubs because they feel they can’t half-ass ANYTHING. It might help OP’s husband to understand that what he perceives as a problem in high school could be a great advantage for the many many decades his daughter will spend out of high school.”

    To which Carolyn replied: I want to buy this post a beer.

    A spectacular post on many levels! Our kid could never have articulated this at the time, and it changed everything. Our son continued to Half Ass it at school, but I stopped hounding him because he was also a good kid. He managed to do well enough to earn a college scholarship (apparently he knocked it out of the park on the SATs but we’ll never know because he lost the log-in info to access his scores). He recently graduated and we watched in slack-jawed awe as he deployed his Whole Ass through a months-long highly competitive process to land his dream job. More importantly, he’s still real close to his Dad and sibling and me. That might not be the case if I had wasted years Butting heads with him if I hadn’t seen this post.

    I think about this post often and have shared it with many friends, so please allow me to express my gratitude: to Carolyn, for the years I’ve spent learning from your wisdom; to the producer of the chat that recognized the brilliance of this post; and to the original poster, if you still follow these chats – I hope with all my heart that you’re living an amazing & happy life and thank you for changing mine!

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