Strange Travels, Part 11: The End?

My adventures in NY Chicago Iowa, continued: First Day of the Month

I arrive in Chicago late, missing the science blogger caucus, but returning just in time to have dinner with some of the Colorado bloggers, care of Jared Polis, a local congressional candidate. The dishes at the restaurant, the Firehouse, are excellent (mmm... gazpacho!) but what I end up truly savoring are Jared’s ideas. He has some interesting experience... he spent a lot of time as a member of the Colorado board of education, and so understands the plight that our schools are in. He seems to have a good business sense, as well... this is the guy who started Blue Mountain Greeting cards--a company that has grown so big that I get spammed with virus mail in their name. Jared plans to promote open choice in schools. I watched as another mother of an elementary school child, whose concerns matched my own, cornered him on the issue, stressing the importance of providing transportation along with open choice. His response was refreshingly encouraging. If he gets elected, we might actually see some progress in our schools.

After dinner, while I settle into my excessively fancy room at the Hyatt, I find myself thinking not only about the future of our country, but about the country I saw, driving in--aging farmhouses and rusting windmills, biofuel booms (or expensive bandaids?) Inevitable changes--and finally the ability of nature to adapt (especially the insects, judging by the number of times I had to clean my windshield.) I think back to all of the buggy encounters I’ve been having, perhaps for a few years now. I’ve been wanting to write a new fictional story, maybe about damselflies or something equally lovely and creepy... maybe my own tale of metamorphosis, and the way the world changes. With all these insect scenes, maybe I have something. I’ll have to look at it when I’m finished with all this travelling...

But just how is it supposed to end, I wonder?