Meeting New People

Starting in August 2016, I added introducing myself to someone new on a daily (well, almost) practice. Since I started that practice, I've introduced myself to one hundred ninety four folks. Initially, I felt pretty awkward carrying out this discipline. I've never been real shy, but there was always that tickling sensation in the back of my mind that said someone might reject the advances (as innocuous as an offered handshake often) from a total stranger.

It turns out that only one of those one hundred and ninety four folks ever refused to give me a name. I had a few handshake dodgers, and it's possible, nea likely, that a few of the names that I got were not entirely aligned with the truth. All in all though, this exercise has restored a bit of faith in my fellow man, and I'm pretty sure I've made a friend or two along the way.

Today wasn't any different. Walking along the shoreline at Ditto Landing on the Tennessee River in Huntsville, AL, I came across two fishermen.  Actually, it was one fisherman and one fisherwonan. The man looked at me a bit skeptically and then asked me, "What's up?" Before panic could grip my tongue, I quickly responded with the truth. I was down taking pictures of the sunset, and I introduced myself and offered the traditional handshake.

George responded well, and introduced himself. We talked briefly about the finer points of bass fishing on the Tennessee River, and after a moment or two he asked me if I'd mind taking a picture of him and his fishing partner who I presume to be his wife.

Catchin' the Last Rays & (Hopefully) a Few Fish - Ditto Landing - Huntsville, AL

I've been practicing my photography for just such and occasion, so I took a few shots and texted them over to him. He was a good chap, and I hope he got what he wanted from the photography. I like the result, but more importantly, I made a new connection.

When it comes down to it, we're all quite a bit more alike than we are different. We all have the same time in the moment. Most of us enjoy the company of others, though sometimes in small doses. Quite a few of us a drawn to the water (or the mountains), and I haven't met anyone yet who didn't somehow appreciate the glory of a colorful sunrise or sunset.

Today was a good day for the practice, and though I don't know what tomorrow will bring, I'm looking forward to finding out.

Rock Legends Pointing Toward a Better Future

Today, my ambling ways took me to the Rocket and Space Center here in Huntsville, AL to catch the sunset. As far as sunsets go, it was not the most spectacular set of colors that I've ever witnessed, but as I was seeing the nuclear fire settle in behind the horizon with the Rocket Center in the foreground my thoughts were drawn to the sad loss of Rock 'n Roll legend Chuck Berry earlier this weekend.

Chuck Berry was a real innovator, and he seems to have come from an era of innovators. Their accomplishments have become part of our culture, and sadly, the innovators and explorers of that era seem to be inevitably passing away. Their accomplishments have been turned into monuments.

Space and Rocket Center - Huntsville, AL

Johnny B. Goode was written in 1958 and recorded in 1959.  Eighteen years later, at the height of NASA's push toward the stars, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were sent forth on the first interstellar exploration mission with a gold plated copper record that among other cultural icons of humanity had this most excellent example of Rock 'n Roll recorded on its surface.

The hope and optimism shown by those giants of innovation and exploration have laid out the challenge that its time we live up to in the early part of the 21st century.

Saturn I Rocket - Space and Rocket Center - Huntsville, AL

As the sun begins to set on those great accomplishments from almost half a century ago, the time has come for humanity to once again slip the surly bonds of Low Earth Orbit and recapture the thrill, hope, and audacity that drove earlier explorers to land mankind on the moon.

The cure for the current state of fear that seems to have become so interwoven with day to day life is to stretch our legs and minds and set out on a great adventure to the stars. The Moon waits, full of water at the poles for fuel, and Mars beckons.  I hope to live to see the day where we once again grasp our cultural, scientific, and engineering inheritance from the innovators and greats that have shown us the way to a better future for humanity. It's time to go back.  It's been far to long.

I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, but I know that opportunity abounds. I'm looking forward to taking advantage of the gifts we've been given.