Priscilla Camp's Acceptance Remarks

Thank you, Justice Corrigan. You’re the only person I know who is always profound and funny, all at the same time. “Thank you” is completely inadequate, but it’s the best I can do at the moment.

In my seminary class this semester, we have been talking about the nature of a gift. A gift does not rely on the worthiness of the one receiving it. It is freely given, gratuitously. It is a gift. There is a lot that could be said about that, theologically, but we don’t have time, and I know you are all glad. My point is that all of this—the award, the presentation of it, the participation of Justice Corrigan and Belva Davis (two of the busiest people in the world), the witness of all of you, the tremendous support for LAS and its work that is present in this room—all of it is an overwhelming gift to me. I can never thank you enough.

I’ve been asked a number of interesting questions lately. One is, is Camp Rousseau Montgomery a place you can send your kids for the summer? No, it’s the name of my firm. We don’t want your children.

I’d like the members of the firm, counsel and staff, to stand at this time.

Another question has been: Have I retired? No.

Then there’s, How do the people at Camp Rousseau Montgomery put up with me? I have no idea; it’s a miracle every day.

Am I in good health? That’s a very sweet question. As far as I know, yes.

Does this award mean that I don’t have to achieve anything else for the rest of my life? I had to think about that one. On some days, it’s tempting: Wow, the pressure’s off, no more achievements required. I hope it doesn’t mean that.

But no matter what we have achieved, and may achieve in the future, we do nothing by ourselves. That’s why this is such a humbling experience. No accomplishment is mine alone. Not one. And I know, as you do, that there are many others who deserve recognition. I could go around this room and pass out achievement awards all over the place, and so could you. I accept this award on behalf of myself and on behalf of everyone who has ever helped me, and everyone who deserves recognition of this very kind.

Know this, I had an initial period of being uncomfortable about the whole thing. I am the one you see, here today, but so many do good work, hard work, year in and year out. So, I asked Justice Corrigan for advice. She was thoughtful, as she always is. She said, “Try this. Try pretending that it’s actually happening to all those other people.” So I tried that. But everything I saw had my name on it, in large print: the press release, the letters asking for sponsorship, the invitation, the program, maybe even the raffle tickets, I don’t know. So that didn’t work.

Then I did the only thing I could do. I called the President. Of the United States. He was very nice. My first question was, “Can we do this?” And he answered, “Of course. Yes we can.”

Then I said, “Corrigan was no help. That’s Corrigan, C-O-R-R-I-G-A-N, a name to remember, Mr. President.” I could hear him putting it into his Blackberry and thinking, “Easier than health care reform. Next appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, piece of cake.” He thanked me.

Then I said, “Here’s my problem. What do you do when you are receiving an award about which the entire world is, well, astonished?”

“Priscilla,” he said, “I know how you feel. But it’s easy, no sweat. Say it’s a challenge, a call to action. Say that this is a crossroads, for you, for LAS, for the country, for the United Nations.” I thanked him. But I’m not going to say all that because it’s too obvious. And I only have five minutes, which I’ve probably used by now.

Instead let me say this. The motto of LAS begins with these words: “Our Mission is to ensure the independence and dignity of seniors.” Great motto. I know you all support it, rightfully so. I’m all for independence myself; I’m one of the most independent people I know. It’s true that serving seniors never gets old. But we do. And I have.

I’m a senior myself now, and I don’t want to soak up care and resources like some giant sponge. There’s nothing dignified about that. I want Interdependence, to be able to ask for help when I need it and to have something to offer for as long as possible. I don’t want to be told, overtly or by implication, that my contribution is no longer valued. So I want LAS, and all of us, to think about independence in terms of interdependence, and to behave accordingly.

Ultimately I hope that two things will be said of me, and of all of us who are privileged to do this work. I hope it will be said that we were compassionate. And I hope it will be said that we did our best with the gifts we had been given.

Thank you.

—Priscilla Camp, October 23, 2009