Engineering

Ian is tremendously gifted when it comes to configuration, spacial arrangements, and mechanical tasks. I'll never forget how once, when he was a toddler and I was putting him in his stroller, I had trouble snapping the strap to close him in, and he showed me how the two pieces fit together (he was barely verbal at that point).

Tonight he built a beautiful complex of buildings out of wood blocks, with all kinds of postmodern pillars and diagonal roofs, and I was really impressed by it and I said, "Ian!"

Ian: Yes?

Me: I really think you'd make an excellent engineer - or architect.

Ian (slowly and distinctly): Daddy, an engineer is what I want to be.

I was most impressed with his profound self-knowledge and sense of vocational direction, at the tender age of five. Then I suddenly remembered what I thought an engineer was when I was his age, so I asked him, "Ian - what does an engineer do?"

He gave exactly the answer I would have given at his age: "Drives a train."

That's the kind of engineer I would have wanted to be when I was about five.

In fact, I remember about two years ago, he mentioned that when he grew up, he would be the engineer on a train, and I would be the conductor. I can't think of a better way of spending my days than in exactly that work arrangement, in such excellent company - on a train, no less!

(June 23, 2009)