If It's on TV It Must be Right.

On our first adventure to Russia and when you travel with Dad it is an adventure, Dad got caught in a little jam. He knew he was speaking at a symposium at one of the big research institutes that surround Moscow. It was also a place that he had visited many times before and he was very familiar with all of the major players. What Dad apparently didn't know is that the institute's director was retiring and Dad would be speaking at the retirement celebration. No big deal for Dad. He could just add a few more bits of praise here and there and everyone would be happy. Dad discovered his dilemma when the first speaker got up and went on and on praising the retiring director and then presented him with a gift; as did the second speaker and then the third... Did this get the best of Dad? Only for a second. He open his briefcase rummaged around and pulled out an expensive looking pen in a nice case, handed me the briefcase and headed for the stage. Now, Dad was the only presenter who spoke in English so I was able to understand what he was saying but not quite believe what I was hearing. Dad said all of the expected things about the director and the wonderful job he had done and what a great service to humanity and so on and so forth. When it came time to present his gift, Dad really went to town. The pen it turns out was from Harvard University and Dad was sent to present it to the director on behalf of Harvard which wanted to also recognize the director's great contributions to science and medicine. The pen was the one gift that the director kept close at hand at all times and left the presentation with still in his hand; the other gifts were left piled on the stage.

When Dad and I were finally away from the crowds I asked him where the pen came from. It did actually come from Harvard. Dad had received it as part of a pitch to Alumni to help raise funds for the University. The rest of the story? Pure Dad.

When we got back to the hotel that night the evening news was playing, including coverage of the symposium. The only clip they showed? That would be Dad presenting the special pen to the special director. Don't believe anything you see on TV. I should know.

Chris

A Well Read Man...

I had the opportunity to travel with Dad twice to Russia, formerly known as the Soviet Union, as Dad preferred to refer to it; he also insisted in calling St. Petersburg, Leningrad, it was his little inside joke with the Russians. On both trips it was Dad, myself, a driver and the translator so there was always plenty of time for Dad to quiz the poor translator. On this particular day the subject was great Russian authors. They waxed poetic about Gogol, Goncharov, Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky... the list went on and on. Finally they seemed to remember that I was in the car and Dad asked my who I thought was the greatest Russian author. Huh? Thankfully, every now and then Dad's gene for BS seems to kick in with me and I quickly answered "What about Mr. Chekhov?" Dad and the translator were both stunned that they had both missed listing Mr. Chekhov among the best. They were both very impressed that after their long list I was able to add a name they had forgotten. I never did confess to Dad that while he was talking about great Russian authors I was talking about the character from Star Trek.

Chris

 In keeping with the theme of BS and full disclosure, I had to Google the names of all of those Russian authors.