So a theme I've often thought about post-living in the Neighborhood is the strange ways our interactions can change each others lives.
There is no doubt in my mind that the funny interaction I had with the many gifted and special people from the Neighborhood changed my perspective on life, goals, what matters, and how to conduct my behavior. Likewise, I have been told by a few of the people that the valued time and experiences we shared together really did change their lives as well.
This idea was recently solidified for me in an off-hand conversation I had with a friend on Facebook about a week ago. We had been friends in high school but by no means close. Often we would share in a deep discussion or be at the same event at the same time...but often did run in different circles. I hadn't spoke with my friend Matt for probably 4 years and found out through Facebook that he was pursuing a PhD in Mathematics.
Turns out that in high school I had been reading a book by John Gribbon called
In Search of Schrodinger's Cat. I was fascinated by the book and it was a great introduction into the realm of modern physics. Since you can't tread into the world of Quantum Mechanics without getting sucked into a philosophical discussion on the nature of reality I shared this book with my friend Matt. From the conversation I'll post below he credits this chance encounter with a book and a discussion with a friend into starting him down the road that has lead him to his career in mathematics.
Obviously there is more to the story and one doesn't go get a degree in mathematics because of one book...but I thought this story was a nice reminder to SHARE YOUR PASSIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.
Matthew
I started reading Shankar's quantum mechanics textbook
Jonathan
How do you like it?
Matthew
Not too far yet, but it's well written
Dirac's notation for linear algebra is pretty amazingly creative though
Jonathan
certainly...Shankar goes in a neat direction that keeps most of the book accessible throughout, even if it is your first go at Quantum Mechanics...I used it as a supplement book during my QM II course a few years back
Matthew
it's been a while since i dealt with any real physics, so i think the second chapter may be tough going for me
Jonathan
Why did you pick up Shankar?
Matthew
iv'e fogotten alot of my E&M I think
I started reading Dirac
The internet told me i may be better off with shankar
Jonathan
That is probably true...are you trying to learn to DO Quantum mechanics or understand QM?
Matthew
understand
though i;; probably do the excersizes in shankar for amusement
Jonathan
I don't even know if I'd waste my time with Shankar then...starting with Feynmann and his work "6 easy and not so Easy pieces" as well as some essays on QM might get you there quicker...then maybe use Shankar as a check of understanding
Matthew
well ive read QED a cople times, how that book complare?
i mean, i want to understand it, not "understand" it
ie. i want math in my quantum mechanics
Jonathan
ummm...it is close together...if you can follow QED and you want to get some math Feynmann is the way to go...then maybe go to Griffiths "Intro to Quantum Mechanics" I used that in undergrad and it was an awesome bridge between words and math
Matthew
ok, ill look at that in the library tomorrow
Jonathan
nice to hear from you and it sounds like you are keeping up the deep thoughts...that is awesome
Matthew
yah
actually, you gave me a book in high school
like schrodengers cat or something
that one thing probably has alot to do with me becoming a mathematician actaully
so thanks ,i was origionally gonna study physics but found out in college that i was really good at math
Jonathan
that is too cool...glad I could help someone along their path in life
Matthew
well we all do what we can
You never know who is listening...what they will take away from it...or where it will lead. Certainly, my exposure in the neighborhood and the direction and personality it placed in me as a human being helped in the meeting of my future wife. At the very least these people introduced me to soccer, which got me to play on an intramural team, which Heather was a part of, and therefore we became acquainted. Who knows if the passion for this sport was kept away from me would I've ever met her?
So, share your thoughts...they lead to amazing places!
So research has me down and life is full of crazy stress and tough events. But then I get a call from my brother, and all he had to do is share a funny article from The Onion and my whole day changed. 
