And least surprising of all is that both Brian and Carol would beat me!

I have to admit that at this point in our post-conference day, I'm less articulate even than usual and certainly don't have a single witty or even mildly interesting thing to add.  So until I can thank you all more fully, let me just say that I was COMPLETELY surprised and bowled over by your kindness and can't wait to dig into this crate (though the rest of the staff here has forbidden me to do that until we can all gather around the table--I think they are under the illusion there's candy somewhere in there!).

And I too am more proud of this project and the creativity and energy you all put into it than I can possibly say.  It's been a far better ten years for small towns in America than it ever would have been without you, and I can't thank you enough for how hard you have worked to make that the case.

Esther

At 05:47 PM 11/15/2004, you wrote:
>It's not too surprising, but Carol's beat me to the thank you punch. Still,
>I need to add my sincere thanks to all of you as well. Saturday was a great
>day for Museum on Main Street; I hope you all gorged yourselves on jelly
>bellies and dreamt in a sugar stupor of 1 in 5 rural Americans. Mostly you
>should all be proud of the collective work you do in order to make this
>project succeed, and of the profound impact it has in our small towns.
>
>For me, the afternoon was filled with surprises. The least of which was that
>LuAnn and Terri would be so thoughtful, that Anna would be so fun, and that
>each of you would contribute to the celebration so generously. Mostly Carol
>and Esther deserve this. But so do LuAnn and Terri and Rozanna and Marty
>Sewell and a host of program officers, executive directors and rural museum
>and library volunteers that keep the wheels on the thing every day. It was
>such a great occasion. I wish that I were older; I'd retire.
>
>Museum on Main Street makes me very very proud. I hope it does the same for
>you. Thanks again for helping to celebrate our first decade. [And stay tuned
>for the second decade, I understand LuAnn and Carol have got big things
>planned: Museum in the 'hood, Museum on Base, Museum in the 'burbs and a
>20th Anniversary tour of a certain little exhibit commemorating the 50th
>anniversary of WWII.
>
>Thanks again,
>
>Brian
>[log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Carol Harsh" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Monday, November 15, 2004 2:48 PM
>Subject: MoMS 10th anniversary celebration
>
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> As many of you know this was a big weekend for Museum on Main Street as we
>> celebrated 10 years together. The luncheon on Saturday was great fun. For
>> those of you who were not able to be in Washington DC for the Federation
>> Conference, please know that we missed you.
>>
>> I want to personally thank every one of you for all of the wonderful
>> mementos that you sent to fill the miniature yellow crates that were
>> presented to me, Brian and Esther. I was very touched.  You have no idea
>> how
>> special it was for me.  I especially want to thank LuAnn and Terri for all
>> the work they did to pull it off.  Keeping it a secret was no small feat.
>>
>> These past ten years have been very fulfilling. I treasure my friendships
>> with you and have enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside many of you.
>> I
>> look forward to our next ten years as we continue the good work of Museum
>> on
>> Main Street!!!
>>
>> Fondly,
>>
>> Carol
>>
>> Carol Harsh
>> Co-Director
>> Museum on Main Street
>> Smithsonian Institution, SITES
>> (202)357-1760
>> (202)465-5267 (cell)
>> [log in to unmask]
>>