Montana PTA Convention

Ah, true Montana weather. The air conditioning can be on one day, and the next it is switched over to heat. The same on the roads; for weeks, maybe even over a month, there has not been any moisture (thus the huge fires). Then all of a sudden it is rainy and cold with snow on the hills around Missoula. On my way to attend the Montana PTA Convention, I drove through a lot of rain and had a scare on the interstate 30 miles east of Missoula. A power line was down and the first reports were an entire interstate closure for a minimum three hours if not all night (they all warned me about travel delays in Montana). Of course, after I turned around to take a detour through Drummond, I stopped at a gas station to learn that they HAD reopened the interstate – an hour setback for me but better than the alternative. Once I finally reached Missoula, I checked in with the Montana PTA and learned that I would have a table in the vendor hall and they would introduce me at the opening session to say a few words (I did oblige when they said “few”). I was ready for bed after my longer-than-expected day.

On Saturday, I met with the members of the PTA in the vendor hall and was well received. I met many who were in full support of keeping music in their schools and interested in having me speak at their school. I also sang a half hour of entertainment at their evening banquet. It is always a pleasure for me to share my heart and love for music through song. I believe it is one of the most personal things I can share.
The members of the PTA are very fun and quite humorous. I laughed when one of the hotel employees said, “those PTA ladies are a little wild.” By the end of the convention and after spending some time with the board members, I could see some truth in his statement.