Kudos for Cowabunga, community

By Jacob Doran

I had the pleasure, last weekend, of attending my first ever Cowabunga variety show. To tell you the truth, I wasn't sure what to expect but pictured it as something akin to the Gong Show of the 70's and 80's.

In addition to the welcome revelation that there is a lot more young talent in the Bigfork area than I would have imagined there to be, I was absolutely taken in by the sense of community that pervaded the show from start to finish.

My hometown is Winterset, Iowa, nestled in the heart of Midwest and clinging tightly to what little attention it has received as the birthplace of John Wayne and hub for those in search of the Bridges of Madison County. That said, Winterset is still more than three times the size of Bigfork in both area and population.

I mention this because I have always considered Winterset to possess a wealth of small town charm. I still miss my hometown and look forward to the occasional trips down memory lane.

I never realized how much that Winterset lacked until I came to Bigfork. I was captivated the first time I watched a performance of the Bigfork Playhouse Children's Theatre in Bigfork's deceptively small downtown. Since then, I have witnessed the impact that the theatre has had upon the young people who are privileged to become involved with it.

It was then that I was struck with how few community offerings that Winterset had in my youth. I don't even recall my high school offering drama, yet I understand that Bigfork High School boasts a solid speech and drama program.

I said all of that to say this. I was blown away last weekend, when I saw how much fun—not to mention how many private and community offerings were evinced in the individual acts—the community had preparing for and putting on Cowabunga.

From the youngest children to the oldest parents and grandparents, I saw nothing but support for the community and the things that are important to this community, from before the show even started until long after everyone had gone home.

There are certain homes that I like to visit, because of the acceptance and hospitality they have shown me, and like a good restaurant that knows how to serve and make its patrons feel at home, I look forward to returning to such places again and again. I have found this community to be just such a place.

I have to say that sitting in on Cowabunga proved to be a highlight of my time with the Bigfork Eagle and made me proud to write for the paper that has long been privileged to share in the joys and sorrows, triumphs and tragedies, wins and losses and—as much as any of the numerous frustrations that make it into print—the pervading sense of community that is Bigfork, Montana.

Thanks for sharing that with me.

And a special thanks to Jerry Gaiser and Jacob Sefcak for giving me several of the best laughs I've had all month. I can't wait to see where you and the rest of the BPCT talent go from here. Just don't go far.