Like many folks across America, I attended an Oscar party last night.

The venue was the downstairs den of a good friend that houses a 7’ x 11’ projection system (that’s right, the screen has to be measured in feet!), a comfy couch, super-sized ottoman, and regulation sized dining table for grazing food and makeshift bar.

As a group, we pretty much concluded that Chris Rock was the big winner, the best host in years, and Cate Blanchett was the big loser for her gown selection. We decided it made her look like she survived an explosion of a box of blue Kleenex.

Although, I saw many of this year’s nominated films, I don’t watch the awards broadcast every year. I didn’t have a favorite, and I wasn’t in any sort of pool for picking the winners.

But there is something about the event that I do love.

There are usually some surprises. I loved the bit about Chris Rock supposedly helping his daughters win this year’s Girl Scout troop’s contest by pitching Harvey Weinstein and John Legend et al to buy a few boxes of Thin Mints.

And, of course, I love the acceptance speeches, which are basically Thank You Letters.

Where else can you see so much gratitude on display packed in between three plus hours of spectacle (including commercials)?

A lot was made about this year’s award ceremony needing to be re-named The White Oscars because of the absence of African Americans as nominees in key categories.

I thought it was great that the discussion was brought to more people’s attention, but this was not a new issue or even a new platform for airing something controversial.

I remember Apache spokesperson Sacheen Littlefeather speaking for Marlon Brando when he won an Oscar for his performance as Don Corleone in the original Godfather back in 1973. Politely, she explained that Mr. Brando couldn’t accept the award as long Native Americans were depicted so poorly in film and television.

Besides diversity, the 88^th Academy Awards brought attention to global warming (in Leonardo DiCaprio’s speech on the importance of preserving the natural world). The personal and cultural consequences of rape was showcased in Vice President Biden’s short speech and Lady Gaga’s powerful singing of Til it Happens to You.

I actually like that such political and cultural issues can seep into any event that provides such a wide audience.

No matter which cinematographer, screenwriter or starlet takes home prizes, to me the night will always be about gratitude and the recognition of support and inspiration. Whether someone uses their moments onstage to bow to parents, spouses, mentors or collaborators, in their acceptance speeches, these honored artists express heartfelt gratitude.

I normally think of gratitude as a quiet emotion, as an understated kind of love for WHAT IS, but I really enjoy seeing a difference face of appreciation sometimes.

It’s hard to forget Roberto Benigni’s acceptance speech for Life is Beautiful as Best Foreign Film in 1999. Directly to the audience he said, “I leave here with the Oscar, but I want YOU! I want to be rocked by the waves of your beauty…I want to kiss everybody because you’re the image of this joy…”

Recognizing gratitude in exuberance as well as in reflection is no small thing.