[Choir] Here's to Harris!!

[Renee Lagala]

Hello, all.
Even though I am not a member of the choir yet (I was a member many years
ago and would like to return - waiting for health issues to clear up), I
wanted to share that Harris Webster and I go way back! He was my social
studies teacher at Everett High School in Lansing, Michigan. (I think it
was my junior year - 1970 ish ). He and a language arts teacher decided to
teach an integrative course combining history and fiction. (They were way
ahead of their time). They asked students to help figure out a name for
this course. I came up with Hi-Fi, using the first two letters of History
and the first two letters of Fiction. My name was chosen, much to my
delight.  (Remember stereo being called hi-fi?) He taught for 40 years in
Lansing, even though he is originally from Vermont.  Harris was doing a
sermon about Mother's Day at the church years ago after he returned to
Vermont, and I didn't hear much of it, due to me racking my brain trying to
figure out where I knew this familiar-looking man. Before seeing him in
church, I saw him near the post office and almost said hello, but held
back. He looked that familiar because he didn't change much!  When I
finally figured it out, I approached him after church. What are the odds?
Better for him than me, after teaching thousands of kids through the years.
I told him about the intimidating dreaded oral test he facilitated and how
badly I did (history was NOT my forte, but the fiction part of the course
was more to my liking). I just wanted to share this because I think he and
his teaching partner were trying to make history come alive with the
combination of courses. I still didn't do well in history, but as I look
back, it was fun being in that class. He and Mr. Hal Hines had a great
rapport and worked well together. If someone had told me my social studies
teacher and I would cross paths and I would be wishing him a happy birthday
53 yrs down the road, I would have asked them what they were smoking. HAPPY
BIRTHDAY, HARRIS! (I still want to call him Mr. Webster, but I guess I can
be more informal now).

Renee Lagala (thankfully on the email list)

On Wed, Mar 1, 2023 at 11:25 AM MaryJean McKelvy via Choir <
choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:

> It’s been fun watching this thread of accolades re: Harris, who by all
> accounts is a kind, classy man and an awesome human being… Also,
>  I don’t think even this barrage of compliments on line will change his
> humility or his barely concealed love of women… He’s truly one of a
> kind  among men…Love, MJM
>
> On Wed, Mar 1, 2023 at 9:51 AM tom--- via Choir <
> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>
>> Ginny mentioned Maeve McBride in a story about Harris, and Maeve McBride
>> is preaching this week.
>>
>> On Feb 28, 2023, at 4:42 PM, Brenda J Bean via Choir <
>> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>>
>> These are all wonderful descriptions of Harris!  Harris, you set such a
>> high bar for life – modelling what ordinary people can do yet being kind to
>> those of us who fail to do all we could.  I’m grateful you are in our
>> lives.  Happy birthday!  Love, BB
>>
>> *From:* Choir <choir-bounces at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> *On Behalf
>> Of *Lindsay Wade via Choir
>> *Sent:* Tuesday, February 28, 2023 8:06 AM
>> *To:* Harris Webster <hewebster at comcast.net>
>> *Cc:* UCM Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Choir] Here's to Harris!!
>>
>> Happy birthday Harris.  You are an adventurer, positive thinker, funny
>> and definitely a doer.  Best wishes to you!
>>
>> Lindsay
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Feb 28, 2023, at 7:08 AM, Catherine Lowther via Choir <
>> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>>
>> Happy Birthday, Harris!
>> Catherine
>>
>>
>> On Feb 28, 2023, at 7:07 AM, Mazi Marie via Choir <
>> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>>
>> HaPpY BiRtHdAy ��Harris!!!!
>>
>> Diane
>>
>> On Tue, Feb 28, 2023, 6:03 AM Vamarie via Choir <
>> choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> wrote:
>>
>> Happy birthday to my movement brother!
>>
>> Let me share a little story. In December 2012, Harris and I were seat
>> mates on an early morning departure/late night return bus to Boston for an
>> environmental march and rally. It was cold. We marched through a shopping
>> district and got a lot of stares. Maeve McBride was one of the speakers.
>> Food was served -- food that was scrounged from food that had been thrown
>> out by restaurants.and grocery stores. Harris and I both ate it, and it was
>> delicious. It was a long, amazing day. That was when we decided we were
>> brother and sister in the cause.
>>
>> Harris never gives up working for a better world! Plus, I think he's been
>> in our choir longer than any of the rest of us. He's a great bass, a great
>> citizen of the world, and I hope he has a great birthday!
>>
>> Ginny
>> Unitarian Church of Montpelier
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>>
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>>
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>>
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