on life’s terms
Soul Song
BY JOELLEN COLLINS
R
ecently, I sang with the Caritas Chorale in a concert called “I Hear America Singing,” a production featuring American choral classics. With this event, I once again was overwhelmed with gratitude for being a part of a group of people uniting in practice and performance to connect with each other and the audience in a celebration of life through song. There was a moment when I actually felt my heart stir, singing the simple, loving words of a poem by Robert Frost, “The Pasture.” I was transported to a New England farm scene where the owner invites his quiet partner to join him as he surveys the fields: although he has said, “I won’t be long,” he follows this with a simple phrase, “You come, too.” Those three words, understated but moving, reveal the emotions of a tender partnership. One of the great attractions of the Wood River Valley is the opportunity to gather with a rich assortment of people and sing or
act or play music or dance or just listen in beautiful venues and to be afforded the chance to do so that one might not find in a big city. A few years ago I had some emotional and relationship setbacks. I wallowed in self-pity and sadness for some time and then did two things that pulled me out of a potential fall into an abyss: I joined the choir at St. Thomas church and went to Africa to volunteer at Theresa Grant’s orphanage in Tanzania. Both of those activities relieved my angst better than I expected. The choir, under the direction of Dick Brown, opened up a fellowship with creative artists, and I learned that I am a tenor, “one of the boys.” Eventually, I sang with Patty Parsons and the Hallelujah Chorus and then with Caritas Chorale. The experience in Africa made me again grateful for all I have been given in love, opportunity and education, replacing an absorption with my own travails. I fulfilled one of the most basic needs of humanity—finding ways to use one’s talents to contribute in positive ways to those who have not been
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born in a safe and peaceful environment. So, when the new director of Caritas, R.L. Rowsey, winked at pleasure to his singers as we finished on a harmonious chord, I rejoiced that I could be here, in this place, at this time, with these talented singers, and with the amazing people in my home town. Any joint creative effort is rewarding, of course, but oh, what a very special one this was: the joy was contagious. I’ll keep singing the praises of being part of it all.
Wealth Management For Inheritances & Other Capital Sums Succession Planning For Family Farms & Small Businesses Retirement Planning Wendell Cayton, MSFS
Investment Advisor Representative
208-721-3735
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www.legacyprotection.net wendell@wendellcayton.com
121 Price Lane Bellevue ID 83313
Wendell Cayton is an Investment Advisor Representative of Wealth Management Advisors, LLC,an investment advisor firm registered in the states of Washington & California. He is also an Investment Advisor Representative of Transamerica Financial Advisors, a registerd broker/dealer & investment advisor, Member FINRA & SIPC, 570 Carillon, St. Petersburg, Florida, 33716, 800-458-4975, Transamerica Financial Advisors & Wealth Management Advisors LLC are not affiliated.
JoEllen Collins—a longtime resident of the Wood River Valley—is a teacher, writer, fabric artist, choir member and unabashedly proud grandma known as “Bibi Jo.”
The Advocates, ETC
Help Local Firms Support The Advocates BY LISA HUTTINGER
Does that favorite vehicle in the garage need some work? Then, let’s fix it up for Next Season! We Specialize in Restoration of Vehicles Body Work • Paint • Rust Repair • Upholstery Mechanical • Electrical • Specialty Needs
T
is the season for festivities and giving—but for some families, the holidays accentuate the struggles they are facing every day. We are grateful to the following local businesses that are helping to make the holidays a little brighter for our clients. Mark your calendars, and look for more news in December. Giving Trees: Each year our clients and their families are adopted by local businesses and individuals. Would you like to add a little merry to their lives, and yours? Pop by the YMCA, Panache or The Attic (starting Dec. 2) to select a tag from our giving trees at these locations. Purchase the suggested gift, wrap it and return it (with the tag attached, please!) to the same location by Dec. 18. We are also grateful to Sotheby’s International Realty-Sun Valley and Lisa Jenner Pilates; both businesses are hosting private giving trees to adopt families for the holidays. Panache Shopping Event: On December 11, Panache will donate 10 percent of its sales to The Advocates! The giving runs all day, but join us from 4-6 p.m. for a special reception, noshes, a chance to visit with our Board and a great raffle. Remember, Santa loves grownups too, and Panache will have a makeup artist on hand to give you a stylish new holiday look before
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Kenya Schott, Bailey Cleven, Jackie Shultz and John Quinones —ETC (Every Teen has a Choice) teen interns with The Advocates—wear their hearts on their sleeves. Courtesy photo
taking your photo with Santa! Ditch Your Down: Backwoods Mountain Sports is partnering with The Advocates to warm the hearts and souls of The Advocates’ family. For every donation of a warm winter coat brought in to Backwoods from Monday, Nov. 24, through Saturday, Dec. 13, Backwoods will give the donor a discount of 15 percent off a NEW coat. The gently worn coats will go to The Advocates’ clients and their families. Backwoods will accept men’s, women’s and kids’ coats, and please be sure they are washed and dried, or cleaned!
Sun Valley Board of Realtors: Their Holiday Gift Basket program serves people throughout the community—including our clients! A huge thank you to all of the individuals and businesses that support safe lives all year long!
CERAMICS . ART . SCARVES
Lisa Huttinger is The Advocates’ development director. The Advocates is a Hailey-based nonprofit whose mission is to build a community that is free from emotional and physical violence. For more information, visit theadvocatesorg.org or call 208-788-4191.
T h e W e e k ly S u n •
DECEMBER 3, 2014
Papoose Bazaar Hemingway Elementary December 6 & 7 9-5 and 11-4 New Shapes New Designs New Collections
Happy Holiday Pricing! 15