365/2 = 182.5 - half way today was half way through the year. Time to take a bird's eye view of this project. The photograph was taken as we left Washington, left NECC to head back home.
I started this project to challenge myself - could I stick with taking a photo a day. So far so good.
I have changed how I see, heightening my visual observing, noticing more and delighting in what I see.
I have been writing daily; some days it comes easily, others not, but I enjoy it more.
I have seen many wonderful photographs, read interesting reflections and have learned from what others are doing.
I am slowly coming to know people in this circle and feeling like I have new friends.
Sometimes I have looked at things closely, sometimes pulled back to get a wider picture.
Vacation time is starting - time to slow down, to reflect, to recharge, to venture out and see new things. I plan to photograph and write daily. Posting may come in spurts when my travels take me out of wifi range. I look forward to the next half year, to explore ideas and find ways to interact more with those who stop here for a visit and whose words have encouraged me to keep going.
At conference end, my colleagues and I went on a walking tour of the monuments on the mall in Washington, DC. The Lincoln Memorial touches me as I remember events associated with it as well as what it represents - more than Lincoln and his efforts to unite his country and emancipate the slaves, but also the role this place has played in terms of continuing that work. I went to a session this morning by Bernie Dodge, who talked about PuzzlePlaces - a new tool he is developing to encourage the use of maps. This reminded me of an old friend who talked of "The map is not the territory". It is only when we get into the territory that we begin to understand it - we can represent it in a map, but that is only the abstraction of the reality. The territory reveals so much more. Bernie spoke of how compelling uses of Google Maps and Google Earth can help us learn so much more through mashups, making connections to history, geography, literature, to better understand the territory.
Today we walked the territory, with a guide who filled in pieces that made the experience come alive, through stories. Through him, the mall filled with soldiers' tents as they bivouaced there during the civil war; a baseball player stood poised waiting to catch a ball dropped from the Washington Monument, soldiers died as they fought in battles in the Pacific, in Europe and in Viet Nam. And for me, Martin Luther King stood looking over a sea of people and inspired a nation to dream. From that vantage point where he stood, you can see across to the Capitol where, not so long ago, another step was taken on that road to freedom and dignity for all people when Barack Obama was sworn in as president.
History speaks through this place, its stories echo through to all who will listen.
I was really impressed with the art in the Washington Convention Center. This is only one example. There were lovely paintings, photographs, installations - some more traditional, others quite quirky - a circle of guitars hung from the ceiling, large painted animals. What is important is that art is valued. In Quebec there is a requirement that public buildings spend a percentage of the budget (I think it is 1%) on art. It says something about a city when it displays its culture and honours its artists.
Being in this large building, with thousands of people, it was nice to stop occasionally and enjoy - to escape, for a moment, the hum, the hype and the crowds.
Crowds - 18000 people are registered in this conference. Sitting in the keynote in a sea of people makes one feel small. How can you make contact, to make connections, exchange ideas, so essential as part of the conference experience in such a large mob?
I spent the evening at the Edublogger's Cafe - putting faces to the words I have read and heard via blogs and webcasts. And I met my fellow webcaster with whom I had been presenting webcast shows for almost two years, but we had never met. I love my virtual life; it has provided and continues to provide ideas, challenges to my thinking and connections - but it is so nice to have personal conversations and meet face to face. Among this community the essential conversations can happen. How to make a neighbourhood within a larger context.
