[Choir] Here's to Harris!!

Wed Mar 1 11:54:44 CST 2023

Very cool connections!

> On Mar 1, 2023, at 12:31 PM, Renee Lagala <renee.lagala at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:hewebster at comcast.net>>
>> Cc: UCM Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>> wrote:
>>>>  
>>>> HaPpY BiRtHdAy ��Harris!!!!
>>>>  
>>>> Diane
>>>>  
>>>> On Tue, Feb 28, 2023, 6:03 AM Vamarie via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org <mailto: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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