Let's look at this space (the Baerwald Board) as a room. An empty room except for some blocks. The blocks have letters and numbers on them. Now the first guy to find the room is Dan so he names it and gets the first crack at arranging the blocks. Once Dan has arranged the blocks into the patterns, shapes, and words that he'd like others to see he leaves. He goes and tells others about the room.

Pat goes looking for the room after hearing about it from Dan. He's the next guy in the room. Pat doesn't rename the room because he knows Dan has named it and it will be the way that others find it. Pat now has the second crack at the blocks. He rearranges the blocks to say something he wants others to see then leaves.

Word spreads about the room.

David is next into the room but he's heard about the blocks and that they only have letters and numbers on them. He wants to go to the room and leave something for people to see but feels the blocks that are there might not be enough to get his message across so he brings some new blocks with symbols on them. Once he has rearranged the set of blocks to his satisfaction he leaves.

Andrea is next to the room. Having heard that David brought some of his own blocks to leave she does the same. Her blocks have colors on them. She leaves the new arrangement for the next person...now with blocks with letters, numbers, symbols, and colors.

Kent is next to the room. Word has spread about the room and the wonderful things people leave for the next to see. Kent has heard that some people are bringing their own blocks to the room. He has far too many blocks to carry and he can't decide which he most would  like to take to the room so instead he brings a can of paint. When Kent arrives at the room he repaints some of the blocks and leaves his own elaborate message behind.

Dale is next to the room. He's been wanting to come to the room since first hearing about it. Living in the far north it's a long journey for him though so it's taken him much time to get here. Excited he enters the room. When he sees that someone has repainted some of the blocks he's furious. "What kind of person would do this?" he asks. Dale discards all the repainted blocks and goes to work with the rest. He leaves the repainted blocks thrown in a corner. Satisfied with his creation he leaves.

Until this time all the others who had visited used all the blocks for their creation.

Mick is next to the room. Having had to travel an even further distance than Dale and cross a vast body of water he's expecting quite a bit. Mick sees Dale's creation...ponders it...and then kicks it over. Mick reaches into his bag and removes a very unique block. The one and only block he knew he would bring to this room. The block has no numbers, symbols, or letters and it is completely colorless. Mick dances about the room kicking blocks away to the corners till he's cleared the space. He leaves his single block at the center of the room. Satisfied, he smiles...utters an obscenity and leaves.

Kevin G is next to the room. When he arrives he's surprised at what he sees. This is not at all what he expected. Blocks kicked into the corners and one blank block at the center of the room. There's no message...no creation. Inspired by this Kevin takes the blocks and breaks them up into their individual groups. Blocks with letters, blocks with numbers, blocks with symbols, blocks with colors, blocks repainted by Kent. He builds a separate creation with each set of blocks and not knowing what to do with Mick's block leaves it in a corner.

This process continues. People come. People go. Some bring their own blocks...some alter things about the blocks that are there. Each leaves what they believe to be something of meaning. Dan whenever he returns to the room is always amazed by it's changes and how the people who come and go seem to become more and more inspired. The meanings of the creations left behind are not always clear but there is a clear sense of communication. He decides the room is a good thing. Others that continue to visit and return to rearrange and or add to the blocks decide it is too.

Many people bring more blocks as time passes but Kent...well...he always brings paint.

Always remember not to lose touch with the purple monkey. The purple monkey is not for sale.