Laura Harnish is the California Regional Director.

Wow. Last night was spectacular. I don’t have to tell anyone in the water world that however, because it truly seemed that everyone was there. The tribute to Tom Graff [PDF] was our own wonky version of the Oscars (though I have to say the water buffalo award is now more coveted than an Oscar …). The event was so well attended that I dare say that every drop of water in California was represented.

And although there were all manner of luminaries present, from far and near, there was no question that Tom Graff was “the man". He claimed this title handily not just as tribute after tribute recalled his numerous successes and fabulously Graffish characteristics, but, when he finally took the podium and delivered the most hilarious joke of the night with complete dead pan and impeccable timing, the crowd went wild.

(I won’t reprint the joke here…if you missed the event, find someone to tell you the joke.)

What was notable about this gathering, as Spreck observed in his remarks, was that there was a lot whole lotta love in that room. A room chock full of soldiers from all sides of the water wars, past and present and maybe even a few ghosts. A room full of folks who are desperately trying to seek a solution that will meet their own needs now, and into the apparently very challenging, future.

The love was clearly there for Tom “the man” and also for what Tom embodies and inspires: honesty, fairness, the ability to see through the bullshit, and his mischievous humor. Most of all, the impressive ability to look beyond his own needs across the table to those of others and creatively find a way to meet them all in a way that no one had even remotely considered.

The question of the evening was: What does Tom know that the rest of us don’t, that causes him to be optimistic? I suspect it has something to do with the feeling in that room last night. Care to let us in on the secret Tom?