the first day

It almost began by seeing Andy Jordan working the desk at Jameson Inn in Trussville, Alabama. When I visited him in Gulf Shores three years ago, back when he had a gig as a GM, Andy was wearing very plain black shoes that many businessmen wear. At 2AM on Sunday morning, he was wearing green Converse and his hair was ten inches longer since the last time I saw him.

Andy said he´s going to art school in September.

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At 9AM I boarded a plane that when to Chicago. Then I boarded another that went to Boston. Then I was told I had to pay $200 to board one to Iceland.

Note to self: overnight flights are not booked on basis of the day of arrival.

While thirteen of us stood in the international concourse of the airport in Boston, Sara whipped out a garden gnome that bears the scarlet A. His name is Joe Gnometh.

Now I´m here in Solheimer. It´s raining outside, and the wind bites hard--much harder than it did when I ran during the tornado watch earlier last week.

Over my shoulder, students from Iceland, Finland, and Germany are having a conversation with the pack from The University of Alabama. Some came to pick tomatoes. Some came to paint with the disabled people that live here in this community that accommodates 100.

They call Solheimer an eco-village. All the buildings are powered by geothermal energy, and heat from the earth makes the pool hot. Much of the produce eaten here is also grown here. Residents make soap and paint and carve things out of wood. I've only seen a handful of cars.

First, Dave asked us for our definition of sustainability.

I responded with the first textbook definition that came to mind--the ability to use resources and replenish them at the same rate.

A dozen students locked arms while another fell stiff onto them. We made rules:

Listen and communicate with respect
Include everyone
Support and encourage
Take initiative