Looking back and forward

June 15, 2008 marked 8 years with my company. This last week marked my 16th conference with that company.

It was an exhausting week. It always is. I know as I age the long hours and time on my feet will only wear me out more - but I love it. I really do. I think I'm kind of good at planning conferences and doing something well always makes me feel good.

Every summer for the last 8 years I've wondered where this ride will end. I had a coworker for 5 years who used to say that he was on this ship until it sank. I hope to stay put for a while longer.

As part of managing this conference we bring in some temporary labor to help prepare for the conference. I sat chatting with a few of them after we'd finished working one evening and they asked me how I came to be in my current role. As I told the story of starting as a temp it was strange for me to think about my 19 year old self.

Life is interesting. The different doors that open and close. Memory is an interesting thing too: allowing us the opportunity to see how important the opening and closing of those doors is. I don't always feel this way but today I'm thankful for the adventure that life is.

"The Earth was made round so that we would not see too far down the road." -Karen Blixen Out of Africa