A really nice Friday morning read. Thinking about how we connect -- or don't connect -- with nature at each stage of our life reminds me of my own path toward birding in college. At a time in my life when I realized the world could be much bigger than what I had seen growing up, birds helped me discover a whole new layer to my surroundings. But I never would have gotten there without the small encouragements like the ones you write about here, each slowly nurturing that eventual fascination.