Volunteers

Ted. Judy and I have always enjoyed pitching in and helping out a worthy cause. Homeowners associations, Habitat for Humanity – you name it. These are tiny contributions to something Jewish scholars call Tikkun Olam, meaning “repair of the world.” Volunteering is also a selfish act because one inevitably receives than one gives.

When we headed out into the world as nomads, we wanted to continue our habit of volunteering. It occurred to us that this would also be a good way to quickly get to know folks in the towns where we were living. Teaching English in Oaxaca, Mexico was a prime example. We found that our community there was comprised chiefly of our fellow teachers.

On arriving in Missoula, the first thing we did was to visit a farmers market to load up on local berries, vegetables and morel mushrooms.  At one stall, Judy stopped to chat with some people who were promoting something called the International Choral Festival (see ChoralFestival.org) which was to be held in a couple of weeks. It turned out that they needed more volunteers...

So, we have just spent the last week selling merchandise, ushering at concerts and moving stage equipment as well as visiting with the staff, performers, concert goers and fellow volunteers. It's been great and the music was marvelous!

Judy peddling t-shirts

We have always found that people who volunteer are very cool and the folks working this festival were no exception. I’ll mention three gentlemen whom I had the pleasure of working with and share a bit of their stories.

Dwight with some other guy

Dwight is a composer as well as the music director at a Lutheran Church in Northern California (see stonemusique.com to hear some of his works). Dwight grew up in Missoula and returned to attend the festival and help out where he could. We have several common interests, including travel and languages. His German and French are better than mine but we are both learning Spanish. It has been fascinating to hear his stories about living in Missoula back in the 60’s.

Julio is a prominent Missoula attorney. 

Dwight with Julio

His family fled Cuba after Castro took over. In ’64, his family, along with 23 other refugee families boarded a plane in Miami and flew to Great Falls, Montana to begin a new life. The other families eventually made their way back to Florida but Julio is still here.  Dwight and Julio had never met but in a funny coincidence, one of Julio’s professors when he attended the University of Montana Law School was Dwight’s father.

And then there’s Don. A typical Missoulian, Don served in Sierra Leone with the Peace Corps and then came home. He now lives on a small ranch up a canyon with his parents and a herd of goats. Don is a classical musician who works as a bicycle mechanic. He owns a beat up old Chevy pickup truck that is perfect for hauling stage equipment. Don is also a ski bum and has skied at least once per month for 165 consecutive months. In summertime, he seeks out glaciers. Tough dude!

As we first said in South Africa, we are on a “people safari.” Long after I forget the many towns we have visited, I will remember the stories we have heard.

Don