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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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WORTH & VALUE
Olympia Dukakis tells an interesting story about her 1989 Academy Award. During an interview sometime after winning the award, she was asked where she displayed her Oscar. Without giving it any thought she stated the location. Three days later, someone broke into her home while she and her family were gone and took the statuette but nothing else. Not long after that, a man phoned to offer the Oscar back in return for a ransom. Dukakis' son took the call and played along with the thief. Working with the police, they attempted to negotiate with the Oscar kidnapper and entrap him with a well planned exchange. Unfortunately the thief did not fall for the plan. No money was exchanged, and the prized statuette was never recovered. Eventually, Dukakis bought another Oscar from the Academy for $78. Then, because a family friend had insisted that the original award in 1989 be insured, Dukakis received a $10,000 check from the insurance company after reporting the theft. Ironically, a metal statuette worth only $78 was valued at $10,000. What a difference! Sometimes it is difficult for us to remember that value and worth are not necessarily the same thing. A simple look back at the history books reveals many examples. At one time salt was used as a medium of exchange because of its highly regarded value as both a seasoning and a preservative. Trade beads were used to purchase land rights. A family's worth was in direct proportion to the number of heads of livestock they owned. There are also those items that have little or no value, but possess unimaginable worth. Family photos, children's drawings, a special rock or feather, a lock of hair -- we all have our cherished mementos. In the end, it is our perception -- individually or collectively -- that determines both worth and value.
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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