Sean M Everett

I’ve often thought about what I would say in one of these situations. Not because I ever think I’m going to win anything and give one, but because I hear them at the Academy Awards, Grammy’s, etc and while I realize it’s a whirlwind, I’m often left thinking they thank the completely wrong set of people.

Sure, it’s clearly about the people who helped you produce that piece of work, but what about the most important people in your life who’ve sacrificed and supported you for decades. Where, without them, you wouldn’t be the man or woman you are today.

So after watching my gal get Most Photogenic and 2nd Runner Up for Miss Texas USA out of 111 gorgeous women yesterday, here’s what I might say in a speech where I could thank the people who have had the biggest impact on my life:

To my parents, who sacrificed work, an ungodly amount of money, and their lives to be at every sporting event for decades, who taught me when, not if, I would get a degree, who made hard work a prerequisite to quality and “success”, who always put family first, and who let me fail over and over again without ever saying “I told you so”, this is a testament to you, not me.

To my gal Amber, you’ll always be my Miss Texas. I’m proud your dream to teach the next generation, whether that’s pageant girls or the children you plan to build an art school/gallery for to help them fund college tuition.

To Kyle, you’re the brother I never had, and while those two months on your couch about killed my back, they healed my soul.

To Jeff, we’ve done the impossible, whether it’s sit ups or overcoming some of the most painful moments in our lives. The best is yet to come, my fellow Clown Crown holder.

To Nick, I know it’s your human name, but I call you that now because you’ve become not just a best friend, but kindred spirit when it comes to the Adam bomb we want to drop on this planet.

To Nadime, we made a lot of mistakes, but it helped us both grow and make us who we are today.

And to everyone else I’ve had the distinct pleasure to grow up with, work with, and break bread with, if I can do anything to repay you for simply sharing your time with me, I’m only a social media message away.

Stay true to yourself. You are loved.