Dear Pilot,
My guides found your offer to help without our accounting quite… ironic. It’s only that apparently we have a computer that does that, but we have just put it up for sale. How funny to have such an offer to share your adding machine right as they’re trying to offload ours. They say it’s a really complex machine and does more than figure sums, but maybe it’s too complicated if they are not getting enough use out of it to want to keep it?
There’s perhaps a reason we still use adding machines. But then, we are a museum of science and industry: it only makes sense for us to try new things as they come out. Part of science – I am being reminded – is trying things out to see if they work and that even if they do work, there may be room for improvement. I am certainly proof of that, haha!
Another new thing our museum is going to get to try is solar panels. We were told last month that we are to be given a grant from the federal government to try having them power the heat inside the building. They’re big black panels that they’re going to put on the roof and when the sun shines on them, it makes electricity that can power the air conditioning. If the solar panels work well for that, then maybe they can be used to power all kinds of other things. The impression I got was that they were hoping energy from solar panels could power some things that use oil now, since we had all that trouble with shortages a few years ago.
Remember how the CTA started running special trains with lower fares on Sundays to make it less expernsive for people to travel to the museum back then? Well, now they’ve started a bus route that brings people around to some of the city’s museums too, including us! They call it the Culture Bus. I’ve always found autos to be a bit stand-offish, but like your semi-tractor, I’ve also found them helpful when called upon. Unlike trains, buses can come right up to the front of the building so it’s easier for people who would have a hard time walking from the station.
The other big news around here is that Mr. McMaster has announced that he’s planning to retire. He’d like to do some traveling with his wife so he will be stepping down next February. He’s been with the museum since the day it opened, starting out as a guide demonstrating the printing machines and staying so long he eventually worked his way up to president. He’s been here at the museum for as long as I have been at all! It’s amazing in a way. Most people work a few different places over their lives, but he’s only ever worked here.
It’s always a little sad when we know someone will be leaving us, especially when they are such a fixture, but I think we’re all happy for him too. We engines don’t like the idea of retiring because it means we’ll probably be scrapped, but it’s different for people; they get to slow down and rest. Our last president, Mr. Lohr, died during a museum dinner. He always said he never wanted to retire so perhaps that’s as he wanted it, but it was very hard on all of us to lose him so suddenly. Mr. McMaster taking his retirement on his own terms, even if we will miss him, is easier on everyone. It also helps that he can leave knowing the museum is in good hands. Mr. Danliov is going to be president next, so no one is worried about the change in leadership.
It’s good to hear that both 253 and 504 will be safe in your barns and out of the rain from now on. My guides read the part of your letter about Randy and said it sounded like the start to a scary story, complete with “dark and stormy night”. I think they were happy that their jobs do not involve adventures like that.
It’s been quite hot here lately, so the east lawn sends its very warmest regards to you and your yard!
Your friend,
Pioneer