I am now speaking with a certain bias. But a hats-off goes to Pete. This guy, my husband, has been involved in the local recycling effort for a decade. He’s on the VCRS board and assists with fundraising functions. This is impressive given that he has a full-time job teaching communication classes at nearby Mat-Su College. And our off-the-grid place takes up his remaining time.
In the past few weeks, Pete’s been working in the trenches. He’s been pulling a cart and collecting recyclables every day. And he’s been talking with vendors and fairgoers about the importance of recycling. Pete’s naturally personable, so this comes easily to him.
Yesterday afternoon, Pete came back to the sorting area with our camera in hand. There was a bounce to his step and a smile on his face. I stopped what I was doing in order to look at the photos he’d taken. He’d been telling me that we needed to get some pictures of the workers out on the grounds. I’d repeatedly said that I’d do this if I had the time to get out on the grounds. Pete took matters into his own hands when he saw that I’d be too busy to act on his observation.
Pete’s photos were of volunteers doing their job. In addition, he took a photo of a fairgoer putting a container into the wrong barrel, and another of an fairgoer putting a container into the correct barrel. And he took yet another photo of Molly, the VCRS director, removing a can from the wrong barrel.
Pete’s also repeatedly brought me dinner and given me a hand with my other fair activity, which is tending to our goats. Thoughtful is the word – last night when I was sorting – he went over to the radio and changed the station. He knew that I’d find the classical music station preferable to the heavy metal station.
May the sun shine brightly on all the Alaska State Fair volunteers and Pete.
Next: 244. 9/4/17: Recycling Sorting: Being Mindful |