Oh Lord, it's Hard to be Humble

A dear friend of mine taught me a song when I was 17. Called, "Hard to be Humble," it in many ways was both everything and nothing like him. The song is full of energy and charisma. It also demands your attention. These are both, in positive ways, attributes that my fried possessed. However, as the name suggests, it portrays a person to whom humility is a stranger, and this was not at all a reflection of his personality.

Marvin Willis was an entertainer. He brought the energy to every environment he was in, and found a way to sniff out the talents in others and get them to utilize them. He was a dreamer, a musician, a confidant, and a mentor.



I met Marvin when I was 16 at a soaring contest, the 1-26 National Championships. (www.ssa.org if you want to know more about sailplanes). Basically, my dad flew in these contests and I went along with my parents every summer for a few summers in a row because the people are incredible (and Marvin was one of these) so it was like a big family reunion every summer.




Marvin provided much of the entertainment at these events since I began going (and well before) and he was always much of my motivation for trying to make it back each summer. Unfortunately, I didn't get to go to the championships this summer due to work and it is something I have been trying not to dwell on these last few days.

Marvin passed away at the end of the week while on a square dancing vacation with his wife, Betty, and I really can't think of a better way for him to leave this world. Being away from my friends and family and not with my soaring family since I found out Thursday evening has been extremely difficult, but I am so so grateful to have such a support system around me. Marvin's family has requested that in lieu of flowers, people give money to their favorite charity, and this has just solidified even more my assurance that I'm in the right place. I know that Marvin would be proud of what I'm doing, though it doesn't always make sense (you're not getting paid and you're living in a van for 10 weeks over a war that isn't even effecting you?!) and I often doubt myself.

Marvin's death reminds me to live the hell out of life. We all have a desire to do something meaningful with our lives, to make a difference, to impact someone, and that manifests itself in different ways. I hope to be a person who possesses the energy Marvin did-to be able to improve the days of those around me just by being present and taking advantage of every moment.

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way.
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day.
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.

I used to have a girlfriend
but she just couldn't compete
with all of these love starved women
who keep clamoring at my feet.
Well I prob'ly could find me another
but I guess they're all in awe of me.
Who cares, I never get lonesome
cause I treasure my own company.

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way,
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.

I guess you could say I'm a loner,
a cowboy outlaw tough and proud.
I could have lots of friends if I want to
but then I wouldn't stand out from the crowd.
Some folks say that I'm egotistical.
Hell, I don't even know what that means.
I guess it has something to do with the way that I
fill out my skin tight blue jeans.

Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
when you're perfect in every way,
I can't wait to look in the mirror
cause I get better looking each day
To know me is to love me
I must be a hell of a man.
Oh Lord it's hard to be humble
but I'm doing the best that I can.
We're doing the best that we can