I have gone to bed every night for the last month with Sauk Indians and French fur traders.  The books piled up on my bedside table have finally reached the point where they are now making mini-skyscrapers on the floor.  Junk mail can't arrive in the mailbox fast enough before it's converted into jagged bookmarks of every shape and size.  Last week I tore right through the picture of that nice family selling air duct cleaning services without one guilty thought.

This is the life of a history junkie.  While a few of us may find a way to be compensated for some small percentage of our work, it wouldn't matter anyway.  We're passionate about this stuff.  We'd gladly exchange all hopes of building up retirement accounts for the chance to revel in now-moments of exploratory glory.

That's why I was so glad to encounter Jason Loch at Grace.  Jason is a like-minded historian with a penchant for his own favorite moments in time - in his case, anything Egyptian. 

Take a moment to get to know Jason better.  It's those with impenetrable curiosity who always make the best additions to the friendship circle.  Curious minds never grow old and are usually quite accepting during moments when you just can't quite keep your own niche geekdom in.

Which generation do you belong to? Generation Y

 

Age you are on the inside: It varies: sometimes I feel like I'm 50, other times I feel like I'm five.

 

Birth city or where you would say your roots are from: This is a difficult question to answer since my family moved a lot when I was a kid. I've lived in seven states, but I didn't have a chance to put down roots in most of them since we usually moved every two years. But there were exceptions: I spent six years in Pennsylvania and eight years in Michigan. I still have family and friends in both places, so I go back and visit quite often.

 

Member of Grace since: 2006

 

Early Bird or Night Owl? Total night owl. I tend to do my best writing after 10 p.m.

 

Favorite childhood memory: Visiting the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology with my parents. I spent many, many, many hours in their Egyptian galleries.

 

I knew I was an adult when: I had to pay bills for the first time.

 

Beloved blog, website or TV/radio program: JSTOR.org. I was first introduced to it in grad school, and I've been addicted ever since.

 

Favorite book to foist on all of your friends: The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. It's a light, funny read, and everyone I've recommended it to seems to like it as much as I do.

 

Go-to comfort food: My mom's friend chicken. I have her recipe, but I can't make it taste as good as she does.

 

#1 item on your Bucket List (Things to do before you "kick the bucket."): Visit Egypt. I would love to see the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Luxor and Karnak.

 

Physical object that represents your life's work or passion: The little Egyptian statue I keep on my desk. Although I went to grad school to study British history, ancient Egypt has always been my passion.

 

What is your first memory of God? My mother encouraged me to pray from a very early age. The simple prayers I said at bedtime introduced me to God.

 

 

What inspires you? The past. I've been passionate about history in one form or another since I was in kindergarten. For me, research is like a treasure hunt, and I'm continually surprised by the things I discover.

 

 

One thing no one would guess about you: I collect ocean liner memorabilia. I've managed to amass a nice little collection of deck plans, brochures, passenger lists, and menus.

 

Why Grace? I'm a broad churchman at heart, so Grace's liturgical style is right up my alley. I also like the fact that we have such a warm and welcoming parish family. I was brand-new to Madison when I joined Grace, and the friendly people in the pews really helped me put down roots here.

 

-Jody