Seattle-- Ah wis in hie schuil, an wairkin backstage at a fundraiser concert for a Puget Sound program inspirit by Pete's Clearwater environmental project. Pete wis MC for the concert, an Ah wis jist in awe, kennin the history an power o his music, his life, his activism. After the concert, Ah wis reddin up the "green ruim" backstage, an strugglin tae get a muckle grait bag o trash oot the door an ower tae the dumpster. (Weel, the bag wisnae sae big, rilly, but Ah wis a wee bit o a thing masel, an the wairk o handlin the unweildy bag & negotiatin the heavy metal door wis mair than Ah cuid manage.) Pete comes doon, sees ma moment o struggle, says, "Here, let me help you with that!" & blythely lifts the trashbag oot o ma hauns. Ah'm left haudin the door an stutterin protests tae the effect o "But ye're Pete Seeger! Ye suidnae be takin oot garbage for the lowly likes o me!" He jist grinned an let me keep haudin the door 'til he gaet back frae the dumpster. O coorse, it wis precisely because he WIS Pete Seeger that he did what he did. A momentary act, aye, an nae muckle in the grand scheme o things, but Ah'll ne'er forget it... an Ah intend tae spend the rest o ma life sairvin ithers wi the same respect an thochtfu courtesy he offerit me.

Happiest o Birthdays tae ye, Pete!

--Cuilionn