Thoughts on FERMILAB, long overdue

Our day began with a short drive into what must surely seem to most observers as little more than a beautiful prairieland completely unscarred by the hand of man. The early settler’s mass exodus into the west had peacefully passed through the greater part of Illinois, leaving the majority of the state’s population to pool in a number of large cities; however, where the concrete ends, the fertile farmland and ranch lifestyles begin.  It is in the rural outskirts of Chicago that we discovered the heart of America’s knowledge and understanding of the cosmos: FERMILAB.  The stereotypes of the physicists and mathematicians, theorists and engineers as being wild-haired, hunched-backed, out of style, and unsociable hermits are quickly dissolved upon entering the beautifully designed Wilson tower.  Smiling faces, friendly voices, and an eager-to-teach demeanor greet you immediately at the door.  With such a vast wealth of knowledge, experience, and understanding in the FERMILAB community, it is easy to see how a curious visitor such as myself can be easily overwhelmed.  Although I can hardly reproduce on paper, let alone correctly articulate any of the information I took in during my time at the FERMILAB, I can say with confidence that these brilliant young men and women have devoted their lives to something grand.  I have come to realize that what exactly this grand thing is, without a lifetimes devotion on my own part, may be far beyond my ability to understand.  The honest enthusiasm shown by the devoted FERMILAB team gives clear testimony to its importance regardless of my humble ignorance.  But if you whittle away at the complexity of their speech, you will discover a core that unites their devotion; a unique bond held tight by a common thirst for knowledge for the sake of knowledge, and it is indeed a remarkable thing. 

D Faust