Everyday Oscars

Well, the Oscars are over. Including a slight snafu around the announcement of Best Picture.

And Emma Stone's acceptance speech hit a high note. She said, in part, after thanking everyone involved in the production, "I still have a lot of growing and learning and work to do..."

Which got me to thinking, what if they handed out Everyday Oscars? And the nominees are...

Best Cinematography - Mother Nature (also known as Creation). Of course that would include everything from the Swiss Alps to the Grand Canyon to the Great Lakes to Iceland. Or the tropical Rain Forest cutting through the Amazon. Or the Amazon River itself. Or the Rockies. Or the Himalayas?

Best Sound Editing - How about the sound of ocean surf pounding against cliffs? Or the same surf a few days later, gently lapping at the shore? Or the sound of the wind rustling its way through a forest? Or the enveloping silence of snow falling in the evening? A cat purring?

Best Director - Anyone who takes the time to mentor someone else - mostly by their example. Especially to a kid who doesn't have someone else actively caring about them. This of course includes hundreds of thousands of educators - from kindergarten on up through PhD level. And the equally dedicated millions of volunteers is school systems worldwide.

Best Visual Effects - Putting down your smartphone and looking into the eyes of someone while

they are talking to you. And smiling as you acknowledge their presence.

Best Writing (Journalism) - Goes to anyone who writes/has relentlessly written the truth, undeterred by the consequences. Inspiring all of us to live the same. Including, but not limited to Hu Shuli, James Agee, Christine Amanpour, Nicholas Kristoff, James Baldwin, Margaret Bourke-White, Ed Bradley, W.E.B. DuBois, Frances FitzGerald, Nat Hentoff, Dorothy Thompson, Langston Hughes, Charles Kuralt, Bill Moyers, Anna Quindlen,  Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein and Mike Royko. Here's a list of 100.

Best Costume Design - A spotted leopard, a white-headed capuchin monkey, a blue-and-yellow

maccaw. The elegantly simple design of the ladybug. Or any forest dressed up in its autumnal glory. Or how about an evening sky in the desert (or anywhere away from city lights), with millions of stars overhead?

Best Make Up - Having the confidence and peace to go out into the world as yourself.

Best Actress - All Moms, for their consistent, unrelenting, unshakeable love. Especially in the middle of a earth-shatteringly hectic day (for them) when their kids voice their need for affirmation.

Best Actor - All Dads who offer the same. And for step-moms and step-dads, grandparents and all others who are able to handle the emotional acrobatics of stopping whatever they are doing, on a dime, to pivot their attention towards a kid.

Best Animated Feature - An otter scooting down a muddy river bank into the river. Followed

closely by any flock of birds taking off together in a miraculously random pattern. (Or if you live in North America, seeing your first robin way before your calendar officially turns to spring.)

Best Supporting Actress - Your best female friend who offers a smile when you need one. Cries along with you, without you having to stop and explain why you're crying. Offering encouragement, always.

Best Supporting Actor - To any male who offers the same as above, maybe minus the crying.

And if you're a bit curious to see who actually won the 87th Annual Academy Award Oscars, look here.

How about you? Who would receive YOUR Oscars??

Photo Credit: night sky - Islay Pictures Photoblog
otter - Wikipedia