SER 4.0

The theme of the event is "Reflections on the Past, Directions for the Future." This morning I've had a little of both.

One of the plenary speakers early today was Laurel Ross, who I've known since about 1985. Her talk was essentially an overview of the Chicago region restoration community, and especially the volunteers. I began as a volunteer in 1983, something that led a few years later to my current career. It was important to see this very special time and place shared with so many people today, from so many places. So much happened in those early days of Chicago restoration, so many experiences that shaped so many of us.

Later I heard a talk by someone I hadn't seen in 18 years. While the subject wasn't really related in any direct way to what I'm doing now, that may have been even better; it became an opportunity to learn more about an ecosystem I've spent only a few days in. More importantly, it was an opportunity to learn what someone known in a moment of my past has been up to since what seems in human terms to have been a long time ago.