Other Duties as Assigned Step Right Up GloryWade Conference and Speaker Coordinator, Vanguard Integrity Professionals

My heretofore illustrious career as a meeting planner took a nosedive off the high wire when I found myself serving as a midway “barker” at our conference’s carnival-themed farewell party. If I ever wanted to run away to join the circus, it eludes

mymemory. But there Iwas, staffing a dart game: “Step right up!Comeand try your luck! Burst three balloons and win a prize!” Mind you, this was not without substantial peril tomy

person.Adart in the hand can be injurious to one’s health. I eyeballed each “mark”whoapproached the booth.How far away should I get from this one? Is his hand steady?Do I see a wild look in her eyes? All went smoothly until my worst nightmare stumbled

up, with a drink in his hand, and glazed eyes.With trepida- tion, I handed him three darts and scurried to the side of the

booth. He tilted his head. His hand shook ever so slightly. (Or was itmyparanoia?)Hethrew. The weapon soared up, up…and over behind the board. “Who moved it?” he slurred, squinting. A crowd had gathered, most with amusement written

across their faces. He licked his lips, aimed, and threw again. The missile

grazed the edge of the board; the multicolored balloonswob- bled in defiance. Heaving a sigh as deep as a clown’s pockets, he tried to

steady the dart by putting his elbow on his huge belly—a belly that would put Buddha to shame.Hegave up and put his elbows on the ledge.Hethrew the dart. It soared up, up …and then plummeted—ker-plunk—to the ballroom floor.

“Thank you for playing, sir.” I returned to my station. “Who’s next?”

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pcma convene February 2011

www.pcma.org

ILLUSTRATION BY BETH ADAMS