I have the privilege of being a volunteer at The Telling Room, a writing center for
children ages 6-18. The people involved
with this organization are special – every single one. I am inspired to be in their presence whether
I’m teaching a 4th grade visiting class, walking the streets of
Portland with a summer camp group, or giving my corporate HR insights to the
Board for the organization itself.
On Friday, 9:00 a.m., 10 degrees in Portland, I walked down
Commercial Street to my committee meeting for Glitterati, The Telling Room’s
annual auction/fund raising event coming up in March. I had to leave the sidewalk for the street
due to the staging three men had built on it.
Their mission – to put up more of the gorgeous half circle blue, green
and white light artwork that sparkle on all the buildings along our brick
façade waterfront. Two men were on the
sidewalk, looking upward and monitoring the ropes dangling down from the
staging.
I blew on my gloved hands as I passed; they were freezing
cold.
All of a sudden, the third man, high up on the staging at
the top of the building belted out in song:
It’s
the most wonderful time of the year……
Laughing playfully down at his compadres on the sidewalk, he
sang loud and proud. I laughed out
loud. Early morning, freezing cold, men
making our city look beautiful, being funny & playful.
Photos: Commercial Street, Portland, Maine
