Being inspired

I was feeling just a tad left out yesterday as all of my gardening and other friends were going to Trudy Temple’s farm and I had already committed to the state garden club meeting and luncheon. A commitment is a commitment in my books and I try to keep to that. Besides, I feel an obligation to attend as many of the wider gardening club circle of meetings as I can. There is so much to learn and so much good to do that I really feel I must try. I’m not alone and I’m not looking for compliments – it is what it is – and so, off I went with Pauline and Marilyn. A long and busy day.  I’m so glad I went.

It is good to network with others, no matter what it is you are involved in or where you sit on the timeline of life. Be it teaching or business, church or social organizations, book groups or knitting circles, there is always a web of other others to weave into and learn and perhaps spin your own threads of knowledge as well.

We sat with two women from Algonquin’s club and I was impressed and inspired by what this small club of about 25 does. This group raises enough money to award about $4,000 in scholarships each year, holding just two fundraisers. I know much larger groups of service organizations that don’t come near that sort of funding and was in awe of what just a few women, willing to get their fingers dirty, can do when they put their hearts in it.

My greatest inspiration yesterday, however, was the entertainment.

Most meetings of this sort feature a flower arrangement type of program. Don’t get me wrong. They are always wonderful and I come away with new ideas, or freshened old ones, on how to decorate a table or fill a container, new things on the market, or the greatest find at the local dollar store. This program, however, was different.

Wayne Messmer and his wife, Kathleen, entertained 100 or so women and a few men, sated with lunch and a long-time-sitting, many who were hours from home on a hot summer afternoon. They sang and they entertained us for about an hour and the time went quickly as their voices were raised in show tunes, starting with Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma and moving on to everything from Edelweiss of The Sound of Music, a floral related medley,  to Kiss Me Kate, the musical where Wayne and Kathleen first met and the song  they later sang to each other at their wedding. They were waiting yesterday for a call from one of their daughter’s announcing the impending birth of a grandchild.

Mr. Messmer walked by each table during lunch, introduced himself, and said a few words. As he walked away, I thought to myself that I had already met him. There was a lull in the table conversation and I suspect several of us were thinking the same thing. Of course, we knew by the program and the earlier registration form that he would be the event’s entertainment, but, well, you know, you don’t always make the connections before hand.

Do you know who Wayne Messmer is? I think you do if you live anywhere near Chicago and especially if you like sports. You know his voice even if you haven’t seen his face and you have likely heard him singing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field or any number of other sports arenas and venues. His rich baritone, whether in song or spoken, is legendary – even if you don’t know him by name.

He also has an inspiring story. I started to recall it as he was singing Try to Remember from The Fantasticks. Wayne was robbed at gunpoint in the early morning hours in April, 1994. He was shot, point blank, in the neck. The news shocked the sports community and the area at large. Everyone knew his voice if they didn’t know his name and the cloud of uncertainty of his condition hovered over the arena of life here for sometime. Wayne Messmer did recover and eventually regained his legendary voice. He continues to sing the National Anthem, and entertains many with his gift whether on stage, at the ballpark, or an afternoon luncheon. You can hear him talk about his story here or listen to him sing here.

It is silly to feel left out of things. There is always something new to discover in life and I was humbled to be so reminded of this. I was glad I went to the meeting and came home so inspired.

What has inspired you lately?

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