May 26-June 1I grew up on a beautiful spread of woods and meadows near Rolla, Missouri. We had about 230 acres with our house up on the south hill overlooking a beautiful valley. A small stream called Spring Creek ran through the bottomlands and a narrow gravel road led from our home to the access road of old Highway 66. The view was so peaceful and beautiful. One late afternoon I stood outside with my Dad in our front yard looking over all of this beauty. Dad was a noted professor at the University of Missouri and for many years the Dean of the School of Science. He was brilliant. I’ll never forget this moment together, because I asked Dad a question and the answer he gave me would change my life…