Yesterday was one of those days. Late in the afternoon, the first of three guys who came to replace our burst hot water heater showed up. Brian introduced himself, and I directed him to the failed heater that had caused some damage (soggy, stinky carpet) and left us hot-waterless for almost a day. Miniscule nuisances, especially when compared to the devastation in Haiti.

I told Brian that I would leave him to his work and return to mine. He asked what kind of work I do. When he learned that it was Web-related, he said that he had retired from writing financial software applications and taken up plumbing. He “loves” his new vocation: “I see the sunshine and people and get to work with my hands.” 

I would have liked to have heard more, but deadlines called, and I returned to my desk in my solitary office, where I continued to think about what Brian said. It occurred to me that he could be a spokesperson to visit schools and encourage young people to pursue technical careers. If he did, he would be joining a cadre of educators and manufacturers who are doing just that -- like those in Manitowoc, Wis.  Read the rest of this entry »