“Here’s to us! Who’s like us?! Damn few…”
Dear docents,
The statement above is part of an old Scottish saying, but I know it best as lyrics to “Old Friends” from Stephen Sondheim’s show “Merrily We Roll Along.”
Somehow, 31 years ago, my wife agreed to marry me even though I did not know Stephen Sondheim. Now, after hundreds of Sondheim performance viewings with my wife (I am pretty sure I’m not exaggerating), I feel a real love for the work of the recently departed composer and lyricist.
While Sondheim aficionados can be insufferable (see the above comments about my spouse), I am struck by how often his lyrics pop to my mind, prompted by my current situation. I recently heard the lyric above and thought of my docent colleagues. Many of you are true friends (the subject of this song), yet for those I don’t know or not know well, I still feel a strong kinship. There really are few like us.
Few people devote the time that we do to a volunteer organization. Few people take the pride in ownership of the organization, as do CAC docents. Few people brave the elements, as docents must, to deliver our tours (last week I had hand-warmers in my gloves on a tour, this week, I am in shorts with sunscreen!). Few organizations have a set of volunteers that really drive the larger organization.
As you know, we are ramping up for a big class of 2023. The response has been overwhelming thus far. Soon there will be MORE of the “few” of us, and that is a good thing! The information sessions for the new class are filling up! But please continue to encourage folks to come to an information session. And consider helping train the new class. If you have never been a sponsor or certifier, give it a try. It is a great way to meet more docents and help grow our organization.
We are entering the height of tour season. We will conduct thousands of tours over the next few months. There are, really, damn few like us—so, here’s to us!
Kent
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