Hatch Awards

The other night I attended 50 years of Hatch. I hadn’t been in a number of years because my last experience wasn’t that good. No, I’m not talking about winning (didn’t) but it was how I felt. Totally out of place! Not only did I feel old (because I am) but something was missing. Something so intrinsic about the show, the people, the work, the atmosphere. I viewed the entries like always, being inspired and awed at the same time. I ran into people I hadn’t seen in a while, which is what you do at Hatch.

But when the lights went dim, and the sea of humanity absent-mindedly found their seats something was missing. What I came to realize was the constant buzz that was the backdrop of the show were actually human voices. This was no longer Hatch! I had been whirled into a dimension I was unfamiliar with. THIS was a social scene and not only wasn’t I part of the party, I didn’t want to be at this party. Wasn’t I at HATCH? What happened to the work? What happened to the FOCUS being “all about the work?” For God’s sake, I couldn’t even hear the MC through the constant buzz of “something else”.

I started to think of what Hatch used to be. The invitations (still remember that one by Cheryl Heller), the work by Mary More, Craig Walker, Ray Welch, Jon Goward, Ron Lawner, Silverman, Doyle and on and on and on! The greats, the minds, the wits. The anticipation, the pit in your stomach the anxiousness, the nervousness, the thrill of hearing your name, walking up on stage, holding your bowls and screaming at the top of your lungs (to yourself). For one glorious night, for all the late nights, the sweat, the commitment, the disappointment, the baby steps, the “big idea” the PLEASURE, for one glorious night it was HATCH!  It was a night when we celebrated the WORK. Period. End of Story. It was all about the WORK.

The other night I went to HATCH. 50 years of Hatch. The old timers, the memories, the bad jokes it was all about the work. 50 years of great work. 5o years. Didn’t take a wrong turn, didn’t end up in the wrong place or wrong dimension. It was HATCH. HATCH was back. I was back. AND IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE WORK!!! And you know what, I can’t wait for next year. Because what HATCH did for me was inspire me. You inspired me. To get up when I fall, to try again, to shoot for the stars, to be great. Until next year.

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