Wandering Wonderings: I came, I saw, I was conquered

This photo does not even begin to do justice to this marvel.  

This great feat of engineering was built before the advent of calculators.  The technology we take for granted was non-existent at that time.  And yet...

And yet...

Mankind was able to conquer a river.  

Hoover Dam is breathtaking.  If you can put your phone down long enough to not just look but SEE....the scope and the scale of this creation can give you hope again in what is possible.

Six different companies came together to build the Hoover Dam.  Through cooperation...and each bringing their specific talents to the mix....construction was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.  This accomplishment does not just belong to government officials or engineers.  In my opinion, it belongs primarily to the men who worked 363 days a year until the work was done....who got sweaty and dirty....who bled and put their lives at risk to see the job done and done well.

Sometimes, I wonder where the "job well done" spirit has gone.  I know it still exists. I see glimmers from time to time.  We pay lip service to "The American Spirit" and "The American Dream". But do those things still exist?  Again, I see glimmers, but in full-blown technicolor?  I am not so sure. We do not always like our jobs.  More often than not, we are worth more than we are paid and deserve to be treated better by our employers.  However, no matter what, I think we should always do a good job.  I think we are honor-bound to do so — and let the chips fall where they may.  I wonder what would happen if that "can do" spirit became the prevailing attitude again?  I wonder what problems would be solved?  I wonder what innovations we might make?  It is such a beautiful thought.

In the meantime, if you find yourself at Hoover Dam, splurge by taking the Dam Tour.  Stroll through the visitor center.  Go for a leisurely walk across the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.  And for goodness sake PLEASE put your phone and your camera down for 5 minutes and SEE the wonder all around you.