Here's one of the things that comes in handy - but is not often talked about - if you're going to be in public office.
It helps to have a keen sense of humor, and the ability not to take yourself too seriously.
Come to think of it, those attributes can come in handy for a newspaper editor as well.
Your foibles are out there on display for everyone to see.
Sometimes, we - both public officials and newspaper editors - do things that cause eyes to roll over across the county.
Take, for instance, the county's newest malady.
The would be the so-called Big Stink. It's back again. Or at least it was.
For the past months, a petroleum-like odor has been popping up along the waterfront, and even making its way as far inroad as Marple and Springfield.
So far, the cause has eluded the folks at the Delaware County Emergency Services. And that is despite bringing in folks from the state Department of Environmental Resources and some special meters to track the stink.
Emergency Services Director Tim Boyce said his office received about 50 more calls when the latest problem surfaced Monday morning.
Boyce has set up a "Wide Area Odor Investigation Task Force" in an attempt to track down what is causing the problem. It was activated again Monday. Boyce noted that teams in New Castle County, Delaware, and Salem County, New Jersey, were receiving similar reports.
The team immediately started collecting data along MacDade Boulevard and Chester Pike.
Unfortunately for Boyce, he has become something of the public face of the fight against the problem.
That often makes for some problematic juxtapositions.
When we posted the news on our website, we needed an image to go with the story. So we grabbed a head shot of Boyce.
So when readers checked the site, they saw Boyce's handsome mug next to a headline blaring 'Big Stink returns to Delco.'
Apparently the 911 boss took more then his share of good-natured ribbing about it. He sent me a text message: Phil, Always appreciate the paper's commitment to keep the public informed. Your friend, Tim 'Big Stink' Boyce.'
When I responded, he said he actually got a kick out of it.
Like I said, it helps to have a sense of humor most days.
Count Tim Boyce in that category.
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