It’s not uncommon for our home phone to ring in the evening with someone wanting to talk to either Big Al or I about our work. 

We’re both very public people and we feel very strongly about good customer service.

 Monday night our home phone rang, and it was Big Al’s turn to possibly field a complaint or ease a concern.

I noticed he had not returned to the family room for some time and I was a little worried something bad may have happened. That’s why it was so noticeable when he returned to the family room, grinning from ear-to-ear.

 The caller was one of the lovely ladies from Medicalodge, the retirement home near the college. 

She was calling to double-check when the solar vehicles would be leaving from campus the next morning. 

She and most all of her fellow residents planned to be seated along their parking lot, in perfect front-row position, to wave on the students as they drove past in route to Topeka, Kan.

 She told Big Al, “We follow Crowder real close and we’re real happy with everything that’s going on out there.”

 After exchanging contact information, Big Al promised to touch base in the morning just to assure every one of the start time and any relevant race details.

 Just a few hours earlier, we had been part of the curious pack of Neosho residents checking out the sleek vehicle designs at the “staged” overnight event on the Crowder campus. 

It was fun to be standing next to a $300,000 alternative energy experiment, knowing the very pleasant student who is trying his best to explain the design as simply as possible is probably one of the smartest people you’ll ever meet.

 The alternative energy program has always been one of my favorite things about Crowder.

I love the competition, the cutting edge, the buzz of being around a bunch of really bright engineers.

 Trust me, I can’t even add very well, much less calculate variances, wind drag, or aerodynamic principles. Just writing about it in one sentence makes me feel inferior.

 A lot is being written and talked about in terms of energy reliance and our seemingly limited options. 

After the last couple of days, I’m not so worried. If these kids are any indication, we have some very bright people, waiting in the wings, just itching to figure out this transportation/energy crisis.

 I’m convinced they can do it.  How can these kids drive by the Medicalodge parking lot filled with supporters and not be confident that it’s their time to make a difference? 
I’m counting on them.
 
If you want to read more, check out my blog: www.lorislostmarbles. blogspot.com I’ve included links to other blogs I find particularly interesting and several of my past columns are archived there as well.