Six degrees

Six degrees can be temperature related, and it delves into that business of how we are all interconnected. This post is about both.

The maple sugaring fairies are out and about, teasing the maple trees to awaken. Two days of kissing up to 40 degrees and I know the sap is readying for its migration into trunk and twigs. Though the forecast for the next day or so is for bone chilling temperatures. (Right now, weather.com has us clocking in at 12 degrees, but feeling like -4, nose hair freezing cold.) The desire to tap the trees will be full throttle come February 25th. And then the true balancing act of family, work and sugaring -- not neccessarily in that order -- will commence.

Yesterday I met up with an old college friend of sorts. And it's that other six degrees of separation that drew us close at work. Without going into too many details, for that would be telling stories outside of school, I am circling the wagons on some record keeping. Dotting the i's and crossing the t's, as it were. And in my research I found out that an alumnus from my old school, the U of I, is among the present and accounted for. Earning his degree with a faculty member that I knew. Of course he was there before I was born, but that Fighting Illini spirit runs true and deep, tying the generations together as if we shared pipettes and beakers at the same lab bench.

His publication record lengthy, highlights of a glorious scientific career, but what now? Is death the cold end? Does his legacy go on? What of our own accomplishments? Do they require paper publication for validation? Or will the memories etched on our children's hearts be paper trail enough?

And what of my colleague? I recorded, his name with the suffix PhD and attached a copy of one of his many papers to his file. Come this Fall, Homecoming Weekend will have brand new meaning.

Hail to the Orange,
Hail to the Blue,
Hail Alma Mater,
Ever so true!
We love no other
So let our motto be
Victory, Illinois! Varsity!