On Friday I received this message from Michael Vander Hoek, entitled “Congratulations, It’s a CCSG!.” The text continued, “Even Phyllis was awestruck when the 200 pounds of the CCSG application were received back from the printer a few minutes ago. What a delivery!” The application will most likely go to the NCI today.
Speaking of deliveries, I left on Thursday night for a long weekend to be be with Harriet, Ella, Ken and Sarah. We celebrated Mother’s Day, which was also Sarah’s birthday, and were joined by our other kids and Isaac. It’s hard to believe Ella is already one month old and that she has changed so much so quickly. It’s even harder to believe that Ken is 32, since a part of my mind’s eye still sees him as a toddler, depending on his parents for guidance, approval and knowledge. Of course I know better, but anyone with a grown child knows exactly what I mean. It was a particularly poignant thought for me this weekend as I helped Ken demolish a wall in his new house, install a new window in the newly enlarged room and get the room ready for some serious renovation. I know how to do none of those things. I am best kept away from tools, which only cause unwanted destruction, personal injury and large repair bills. However, Ken is remarkably adept, and patiently steered me through the process, at the cost of a single splinter and a torn pair of jeans. A once dark room now has light streaming in and will be a wonderful space for Ken’s growing family.Sometimes the child indeed is father to the man. For years Ken has wanted to share with me those things he does so well that I do not do; I successfully avoided mountain climbing (to my relief) and we have never gotten around to wilderness camping (which I think I would like). At least we’ll always have a shared demolition. And, we will have the memory of devouring some Philly delicacies – a cheesesteak from Chubby’s in Roxborough, a hoagie from Lee’s and an unexpectedly fantastic barbecue from a new place called Barbacoa in Ardmore.
While driving home on Sunday night I reflected on how I had learned some new skills from Ken, and considered other ways that old dogs like me can learn new tricks. I thought about my students and other folks in my lab and how my research has grown and developed as they have brought new skills and perspectives to my work. When I came to Georgetown five years ago my career had focused on antibody engineering, and I was beginning to get involved in functional genomics. Now our entire lab is deeply engaged in functional genomics, signaling networks, basic mechanisms underlying cytotoxicity of immune effectors and evolutionary biology. I am proud of how our lab has developed, and am deeply grateful to everybody who has helped me learn what I need to know to ask research questions that are important, impactful and cutting-edge. Like Ken, they have been patient mentors who have broken down walls of ignorance and misunderstanding and have illuminated my current and future research as we tear apart genes in search of new cancer cures. Thanks to all of you! And Happy Mothers Day to everybody who qualifies!