It all started over Christmas break. My family, along with my wife’s parents, was spending the day at the Field Museum in Chicago. In typical fashion, everyone was far ahead of me as I slowly perused the exhibits and tried to read them all.

I was making my way through the Evolving Planet section towards Dinosaur Hall. Part way through I passed by a gentleman. Something he said caught my ear so I listened more intently without trying to be too obvious.

He was talking to about Coal City, the Mazon Creek, Morris and the surrounding strip mines. I was fully interested now. How often do you walk by someone in downtown Chicago at a museum and they are discussing your hometown?