

Pictured: Former Dallas Cowboy safety Bill Bates, left, and Midland District Court Judge Dean Rucker.
I have had a wonderful, blessed life. Filled with goodness, exceptional family, beautiful children and a loving and understanding wife.
Which is not to say my life has been without its moments.
I have struggled with certain issues, chief among which are life's moments of embarrassment. I have had four that stick out like Barney Fife singing in the church choir. Moments that say, "Look at me everyone, I am a major dweeb."
I think if we admitted our moments of embarrassment, it would be easier for us all to accept them, acknowledge them and then forge ahead.
To the next embarrassing moment.
Which just so happened to come to me last week.
But allow me to give you some background. As I said, I have had four such moments. Times so embarrassing they cast a bright red glow upon all who were nearby. Occasions that were so embarrassing others were equally embarrassed for me.
There was the time in 1977 when as drum major of the Irving Nimitz High School Band, I fell while walking UP a ladder to the platform upon which I was to conduct the entire unit in a piece by Tchaikovsky that was already difficult enough before 150 band members were faced with having to be conducted by someone who couldn't properly negotiate five steps upward.
Then there was the time in 2002 when, as co-emcee of the Midland Christmas Parade, I mistakenly referred to the "Citizens on Patrol" as the "Citizens on Parole," a term which does not give the remainder of the Midland citizenry the same comfort level as does Citizens on Patrol, a more accurate depiction of what these hard-working volunteers do.
(Note: You may have noticed the first incident came in 1977, the second in 2002. This by no means is to say that 25 years passed between embarrassments. However, for purposes of brevity and so that I may continue to walk down the street largely unnoticed, I only provide for you these few high points low points today).
These first two moments of embarrassment are my milder mess ups. They can and often do serve as casual dinner conversation starters that can provide some light-hearted chuckles.
There have been two other incidents that are classified under the "Doozy" heading. Mishaps that would have sent me running for the hills had I had that option, and some hills.
Such as the time in 1993, when former Dallas Cowboy safety Bill Bates visited Midland to benefit a local non-profit. I along with a reporter from the Odessa American were given the opportunity to interview Bill in the same small setting. The Odessa writer walked in first, introduced himself successfully and sat down. I followed him in the room. Bill stuck out his hand and introduced himself politely by saying, "Hi, I'm Bill Bates." I looked at him and returned the introduction. Literally. "Hi," I said, "I'm Bill Bates."
In retrospect I can say that 15 years later, it is still very painful. I can only hope now that there was no drool apparent during our brief encounter. I had no idea I held Bill Bates in such high esteem until I made a total idiot out of Jimmy Patterson. Nor did I ever envision having to remind myself that Jimmy Patterson was in fact my name. The other guy already HAD the name Bill Bates.
And then it was just this past Tuesday when I scored the coup de gras. The gravy upon all my other life embarrassments. The cherry on top. A moment for which I can be remembered in perpetuity.
I was in a room full of people. Important people. Police chiefs, sheriffs, educators, clergy, even judges. I had had the pleasure of meeting them all at some point or another during my career and everyone in the room had been nothing but gracious through the years, especially the judges. District judge Jody Gilles was there. So was Marvin Moore and Al Walvoord, two of our county court-at-law judges. In the middle of the program, another judge came in and sat down. He smiled and nodded knowingly at me, I returned the smile and continued talking. I was at the podium as a sort of moderator during this particular occasion and I had made it a point of properly introducing all the dignitaries in attendance, especially those who are robed for the better part of their work days.
When the last judge arrived, I finished with what I was saying, turned and introduced him, and thanked him for coming. As I mentioned earlier, I've had the pleasure of speaking to this judge and all our other judges on several occasions through the years.
"I'd like to also thank the Honorable John Hyde, 238th district court judge, for being with us today," and I noticed as I was thanking him that he was trying to say something while I was introducing him and I thought how unusual and I leaned over and said, "Excuse me?" and he said ...
"I'm Judge Rucker. I'm honored to be thought of as Judge Hyde, but I'm Judge Rucker."
I can assure you that there are certain times in life where there is absolutely nothing that can be said that can ensure a proper recovery from some of life's more embarrassing moments. This was one of those moments. My moment to shine in the red glow of blood that rose from the base of my neck and covered every exposed patch of my face and head, inch by painful inch. It was my crowning achievement.
Until, of course, the next crowning achievement comes along.
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