And we’re supposed to maybe get rain on Saturday. I’d rather get it over with today and have a nice Halloween. Yesterday was nice. Cool, some overcast, no rain though. 72F when I sat out last night.

I spent the morning working with the kids on remaining audio issues to get ready for the afternoon rehearsal. Then I did some paperwork for the show and bought a couple of fittings for my little organizer project. Didn’t have time before the rehearsal, so I ended up staying after for a couple more hours. Did notes with the director, and a review of where we’re at and where she thinks we could be. We’ve still got 12 days — a couple more work days and rehearsals to go, so we’re in good shape.

People are not widgets. They are not ‘replaceable’. Every one has unique talents and skills. The woman who has run the school’s drama program for the last decades is fighting breast cancer for the second time, but this time it’s stage four and terminal. Doctors say about a year. She’s doing chemo and intends to do it to the end. The school’s drama program is likely to continue, but it won’t be the same. She has a way with the kids and parents, and is widely loved. Over the years, lot’s of people have bent over backward to help her however they could. Someone else might step in, but they won’t ‘replace’ her.

With enough effort and school records, you could probably count the lives of the students that she’s influenced and made better, but you can’t count the number of people they’ve gone on to influence and shape. There are a lot of people like her out there. Most of them probably don’t get the recognition they deserve.

Today I’ll go in and see if I can talk with the sound crew about WHY we do things the way we do and how to approach a project like this show. Maybe it will provide dividends for them down the road.

Then I’ll stay for a bit and finish my organizer project. After that, if it isn’t raining, I might do a bit more decor. I enjoy it, and everyone that comes by tomorrow will hopefully enjoy it too.

Spend some time with people and with your community. Leave it a little better than you found it. THAT is the secret of Western Civilization.

And stack. Because so many don’t.

nick