The Urban Nest

Catch up–I started this one in January…

This post, written by NASA’s Thomas Zurbuchen, really hit home with me (pun unavoidable). Like Dr. Zurbuchen, I’ve lived many places and consider myself fortunate to have had these experiences, these different homes.  Albuquerque, St. Paul, New Orleans, Louisville, Bloomington (IN), Honolulu*, Nyack* (NY), St. Paul*, Albuquerque (*several were also temporary; 3-12 months). Most recently, and for the longest at 16 years, Portland, OR.

My apartment is lovely, sunny, spacious, and has really affordable parking. It’s an easy walk to the metro, and there’s a Whole Foods just across the street. My south-facing windows act as passive solar (no need for heat all winter!), and I experience an odd disconnect from life on the ground (the trees stop by the third floor or so). I’m as settled as I will be here–which is mostly, but not quite. I call my DC apartment The Urban Nest, perched as I am on the 21st floor. And I call it that because I just quite cannot call it “home.”

As far as living place goes what’s holding me back from that settled feeling is primarily environmental…the lack of green space, the traffic noise around me, nighttime light…As far as my own mindset that this is all temporary, well that’s a product of the fellowship situation–11 months, no extensions.

Soon enough though, I’m confident I’ll be referring fondly back to my days in The Urban Nest, my DC home. This place and space having anchored their way into my cellular memory, as have all those other places.

The Urban Nest mascots!

The Urban Nest mascots!

The Urban Nest mascots!

The Urban Nest mascots!

HOLA Program at NASA Headquarters

Catch up– started in mid-October…

The Hispanic Outreach and Leadership Alliance (HOLA) at NASA Headquarters organized an amazing presentation in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and I was able to sit in, along with the invited audience–several classes of middle and high school students from the Washington, DC area. While this was back in October, I’m struck by how this event has stuck with me.

The featured speakers were Diana Trujillo from the Jet Propulsion Lab and Jose M. Hernandez, a former astronaut. NASA Administrator (at the time), Gen. Charlie Bolden gave a video welcome and Donald James,  Associate Administrator for Education (at the time), shared a number of NASA resources for students after a great question and answer session.

Ms. Trujillo was completely inspiring. She introduced herself saying this, “My name is Diana Trujillo and my job is to explore space.” About her work on the Curiosity Rover Team she commented, “My team and I are among the first humans to see another planet.” And, about pursuing her dream to work at NASA: “My parents thought I was setting myself up for a path of disappointment.” Seems to me her parents must be pretty proud, and that no one is in the least disappointed!

Astronaut Hernandez told us about his father’s Recipe for Success:

• Identify your goal
• Figure out the distance between you and your goal (What are the requirements?)
• Develop a roadmap to go the distance (How far are you from where you want to be?)
• Stick with the necessary education
• Maintain a strong work ethic

What stuck with me was the suggestion to, after identifying your goal and while on the roadmap, to identify others in the place or role you want to be and to study them.

Much to my pleasure, Diana closed by talking about Daring Mighty Things saying, “…it [what ever your passion] is all worth doing.” Even  given challenges and obstacles, “they are things we can achieve. And, different backgrounds help us to think outside the box.” Here, here! Dare on!