I’m on my favorite porch in western NY, savoring the season – strawberry season that is!

I’ve picked, plucked, mashed, made jam and just finished my first strawberry shortcake (make with a piece of angel food cake, one scoop of vanilla ice cream, as many heaping tablespoons of freshly mashed and lightly sugared strawberries as you can take and a dollop (or three) of whipped cream) yummmm! It is the official taste of summer for me.

Thirty years ago, as a new bride, I was taken to the strawberry fields by my sisters-in-law. My new mother-in-law very patiently coaxed me in the art of jam cooking and canning. Nobody really had to teach me how to eat or appreciate the fruit of the fields. I’m a fan of the strawberry in any form, but they are best eaten in the field warm from the sun.

This year, my son, daughter-in-law, niece and nephew were my strawberry partners in crime. Our timing wasn’t great as it’s been a rough strawberry season this year in Western NY. A too cool and wet spring has left the fields uneven. But, we picked the small but very sweet ripe berries from our search on a hot day in Niagara County, NY. Before we took the strawberries home, we visited my mother-in-law and father-in-law at Cold Springs Cemetery – to commune and remember.

We took shifts plucking, mashing, eating and drinking strawberries – and today I finished the jam cooking in the same kitchen where I learned to make jam. Thanks to Gladys Hoffman for one of the most endearing pleasures of my life. I’m blogging from her front porch that Patty, Alex & Johanna share with me so charmingly when I visit them.

Thanks, SLA! (that is the Special Libraries Association, celebrating 100 years and so, no doubt, due to be rebranded – I heard “Information Professional” so many times at the opening ceremony that even I heard the future.)

SLA is celebrating at the 2009 National Convention in Washington DC this week. SLA President Gloria Zamora noted that “change is our tradition.” Well, that’s an idea I’m learning to live with as change has been my constant companion the past few months as we adjust to townhouse living in a new city and I look forward to a new job. Change…love it or die…is my motto.

Sunday’s SLA Convention keynote address by General Colin Powell was well received. No, he didn’t answer any nagging questions about the use of information in 2003, but he did invite us to be Information Professionals and think about our roles as leaders in this world of information.

Powell reminded me that success is equal parts preparation, hard work and learning from failure. “It’s a transactional world,” Powell intoned, speaking from the stage without teleprompters and comfortable and engaging in his story telling.

Most appropriate for me was his advice on leadership (he has some experience in this field, don’t you know!) Leaders must convey a sense of purpose, show passion for their work, invest in their work force, congratulate and compliment co-workers , discipline when needed and trust people to work hard and do their best.

I take to heart his words that “Transitions are hard.” And “Human connection is what makes an organization successful.”

Aside: I thought about taking pictures for my blog while sitting in the audience. I really wanted to take in the experience and pay attention to the moment. The really good thing about living in this part of the country is what you get to see and who you get to hear speak and the world of ideas right on my new doorstep. I also knew that I would be able to find numerous pictures of the event, so my thanks to the numerous people taking pictures during the event.
Flickr photostream of the keynote: Thank you, Ms. Nengard.

I look forward to seeing and hearing Neil DeGrasse Tyson Wednesday and touring the National Institute of Health on Thursday with fellow librarians…oh, I mean, information professionals.

I turned off the AC, threw open all the windows, went for a long walk, drank my morning coffee while reading the best newspaper ever, The Washington Post and am appreciating the time to do all of this. I’m trying not to obsess, you see.

Then, I sat down at my computer. I’m looking for a job. My computer has become the job seeking tool of choice and my enemy. It’s been just short of three months since I moved and left my old job. Today, at my old job, my co-workers will be going out to observe the “Yeah, the school year is over” ritual breakfast. The bank balance (also checked daily from my computer) reminds me in up-to-the-minute detail that I need to be working. I try not to access my e-mail more than twice a day – when I do it more I feel needy and sad – and I am. In my e-mail I see the daily job alerts from more than one online career site. I often get messages from applications that I sent and they say …I will hear from them in 60 days …or I do not meet their criteria …or, more often,  nothing. Lately, I yell at my computer.

So, today I will blog, send family e-mail up dates, download weekend pictures and put some new music on my mp3 player.  I will once again remind myself that this tool is not my enemy. I might even upload and install the new WordPress software that I have been reminded of daily since about February to make the blog look better.

I will remind myself to be thankful for a sunny walk, hot coffee, a good newspaper, a weekend of great company, friends who called me (with a special thanks…yummmmm…for the friend who sent me cookies in the mail to remind me that I am alone, but not friendless or cookieless.) Then,  I think I’ll go out and trim the bushes. And then, probably check my e-mail again.

Best article today from the Washington Post  – In the Long Run