Dedication to a town

Next Tuesday modern history will be made in Littleton when a new mayor is elected.  For many of us in the Littleton and Lake Gaston area we have never known any other mayor except Mason Hawfield.  Considering he has been either the mayor or a town commissioner for 48 of the last 50 years it is understandable. 

In 1992 when we opened a printing company on South Main Street in Littleton Mayor Hawfield was one of the first people to greet us.  I often wondered what he was thinking when he saw all of that unusual equipment being unloaded on a Saturday afternoon. My son and some of his friends did most of the moving; they were young and fooled around most of time.

We had two pieces of equipment that we had to hire a tow truck to get them from the truck to the ground.  I’ve often wondered what went through his mind after we finished moving into Littleton.

I noticed even back then that Mason was always working.  I didn’t attend many town meetings until a year later when it became part of my beat as a cub reporter.  One of the things that impressed me then and still does is how quiet he is for politician. Given the negative connotation that even the word politicians has, I have to hesitate to call him one. He is a world apart from most of the other politicians I know or have met. 

Over the past year we have taped every town meeting we have attended. You can always tell Mason on the tape he will have the calmest voice out of all of them. In my recent return to the area in 2005 I have been covering the town meetings. The one thing you can count on is that Mason will be in control and do so without trying to outtalk or out yell anyone at the meeting. 

Mason showed me early on the love he has for Littleton.  We had published an article having to do with storm water runoff,  he read a comment in the article differently than I intended.  The very next month after the board meeting he took me off to the side in front of the Town Hall and let me know he didn’t like what I said.  He did so in quiet firm voice.

When he was done I was duly chastised and totally impressed in how he felt about Littleton.  He intended to protect the town and its image from anyone.  He could have just as easily said something during the town board meeting, but Mason has class so he kept his comments until later in private.

The Mayor takes his job seriously, but without fan fare. I am continually surprised with how he handles the town’s money.  You would think it was his money, because he guards it just as much.  Nothing seems to please him more at a meeting than to announce that the town is on budget.  

It is always a pleasure to watch Mason during the citizen’s comments portion of the meetings. It makes no difference what a citizen has to say he politely listens to each and every one and only makes a comment when he feels it is necessary.  The citizen’s comments are supposed to be limited, but in all the meetings I have been too he has never cut anyone off.

Some of the citizens can get very vocal and/or demanding.   As you’re listening you could sense that they hoped they caught the mayor off guard.  If they have, you would never notice it by looking at Mason.

Mayor Mason Hawfield should be very proud of himself for all the years he has served and for the stellar job that he has done.  More importantly the town should be very thankful that he has been looking out for their best interest for so many years. If all politicians were like him we probably wouldn’t have the problems we have.

On another note it is now my turn to try something new.

It has been several years since I have tried to do something new.  I talk a lot about trying new things, but nothing has impressed me enough to try it until recently.  While watching Jeopardy last month a contestant mentioned that he wrote a book in 30 days.  He did it by getting involved with the National Novel Writing Month.

The rules for writing the novel are simple you have to write 50,000 words, about 175 pages, within the month of November.  It has to be a novel.  Those are the only requirements.  There is no big prize at the end of the month, but you will get a certificate that shows you did it.

When I heard about it I said that’s easy, then I talked to someone who has been in the newspaper business years longer than I have.  He told me his first try was a bust.  He did it again the following year and was able to complete it.  When I asked for advice, he told me that the most important thing was to have an outline. 

I have spent the last two weeks working on my outline.  It is almost 7,000 words. I suspect it will be over 8,000 words before Sunday, November 1. The beauty of this effort is that you are supposed to just continue to write and not worry about mistakes, typos or words left out.  I am particularly pleased about the words left out part. That is my biggest problem, my brain moves so much faster than my archaic typing.

I have decided to write about my years in the Marine Corps.  It will only be slightly modeled after me.  My character will look better, be more in shape and be a chick magnet.  He will also be involved in more adventurous things.  You might say I plan to write an extended dream sequence. 

This is just a heads up to all of you who feel I don’t respond to emails fast enough. In November any email I respond to will be a bonus. 

Wish me luck, I’ve got to run and work on my outline.

p.s. If you would like to join the fun you can find it at www.nanowrimo.org.