It's a Wonder it Took So Long

You know you are way too busy when it takes almost thirty years to pick up the medal that accompanies the award of one of the top cultural honors a country bestows.

Stevie Wonder has, indeed, kept a full schedule of charity participation, high-profile collaborations, political involvement, and creative brilliance since 1981 when he was first named into France’s prestigious National Order of Arts and Letters as “Commander,” its highest rank.

“Scheduling conflicts” kept him from receiving the honor, which celebrates those who have made significant artistic contributions both in France and around the world, until now.

He was in Paris to receive a lifetime achievement prize at the Victoires de la Musique awards last Saturday, and barely managed to make time to meet up with Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand for the presentation ceremony.

All that running around takes its toll. Wonder said: “All this in one day, it’s almost too much for me. I’m breathless.”