mmmm..awkward

the university of chicago was the site of the first self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction that man was able to control. there is even an abstract sculpture at the site and a small plaque marking the 25th anniversary, but not explaining the true meaning of such an accomplishment.

i walk past the sculpture every morning on the way to work, not truly cognizant of any of my surroundings half the time as i jog/walk to avoid getting the late eye when i enter my office. this morning, there was a giant tour bus up ahead of me....as i walked closer, i realized that the tour bus was stopped at the sculpture. *shrug*, strange thing to tour i suppose....and then i looked over and saw swarms of Japanese tourists standing around the sculpture, pointing at it, taking pictures with each other in front of it, smiling....

kids, adults, grandparents, all milling around this sculpture that represented so much more than the 25 year anniversary plaque on the tiny concrete wall. it honestly sent a shiver up my spine to consider the seeming triviality of it all. my god.