The Official, One and Only D.S. Award.

THE OFFICIAL, ONE AND ONLY, D.S. AWARD (A LEGACY STORY)

Awarded annually at the family gathering following the official celebration and exchange of Christmas gifts, the D.S. Award was created by the Patriarch of the family (My Hubby). In the early years winners were just announced and laughed about but now there is a beautiful light oak trophy that boasts a full regalia of hardware. Nestled in between two oak columns is the small naked statue of a troll with bright shocking yellow hair. Skillfully attached to the buttocks opening is what appears to be a long strand of "poop" dangling. (The artistic achievements of our Patriarch stand unrivaled by anyone. Probably for good reason. )

To win this award you have to receive the most votes following a year long nomination process by adult family members. You may be nominated if you do something really dumb that makes others in the family perceive you as a dumb s----. No one under 21 can attend the nominating event, vote or be nominated. It is looked forward to by our family as being the one of our more hilarious outlets to open up discussion about the problems and challenges that faced all of us during the previous year and put a special and funny spin on it. The younger children believe it to be the "Dumb Stupid" Award.

It is hilarious to present the nominations and hear the protests of the nominee. And there are always some who just won't turn on the other. My husband and our daughter in law will never support the vote against one another. And year before last year they all turned on me after an impassioned plea from my hubby not because I had done something that stupid but because my normally quiet husband who is so serious really presented a passionate nomination speech and they were so shocked they supported it.

The rule is that the winner must display the large trophy prominently in their home. Usually it goes in the living room or in the case of our son it is prominently displayed in his library right next to his pictures with noted political leaders who adorn the room and walls. And I should mention that my son and my Wisconsin son-in-law have won it multiple times and therefore will soon be inducted in to the hall of fame for DS nominations.

Yes, we're sorta strange and I guess we have a little "white trash" still hanging on in our family. But you know what? It is so much fun and such an ice breaker to stir up conversation about the "hard and challenging" times of our year. And that is important. With growing families, we now only get together at one time, once a year. Other friends are in shock and awe when they learn of the award. All I can say is you can take the redneck out of the family, but you can't take the family out of being redneck.( With apologies to my daughter in law).