My Kids, the Geeks

"...I’m gonna be like you, Dad. You know I’m gonna be like you...." - Harry Chapin

"I shall call him...Mini Me." - Dr. Evil

"Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son." - Darth Vader

I'm a nerd. Before you say, "Oh, Dave, no you're not," let me stop you. Yes, I am, and I love it.

I watch Nova. I've seen the Star Wars movies more often than George Lucas. Charts and graphs make me happy. I long for my days in band (not "a band" like Van Halen, but "band," like "ride in the school bus with the woodwind section.").

"...I’m gonna be like you, Dad. You know I’m gonna be like you...." - Harry Chapin

"I shall call him...Mini Me." - Dr. Evil

"Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son." - Darth Vader

I'm a nerd. Before you say, "Oh, Dave, no you're not," let me stop you. Yes, I am, and I love it.

I watch Nova. I've seen the Star Wars movies more often than George Lucas has. Charts and graphs make me happy. I long for my days in band (not "a band" like Van Halen, but "band," like "ride in the school bus with the woodwind section.").

My iPod is full of audio books, not music, and our basement is brimming with dozens of vintage computers in various states of repair, especially the room I've cornered off as my Man Cave. Furthermore, I believe that everything in the world is a knowable system. For a thorough description of a nerd's perspective, look here.

As a kid I spent a lot of time taking things apart, much to my parents' dismay, to see how they work. Radios, clocks, etc. all ended up a pile of parts on the basement floor. The cool thing is, my kids seem to be future nerds. Nerdettes, if you will. Here is the evidence I put forth.

Exhibit A

I love to watch How It's Made on The Discovery Channel. If you haven't seen it, I'll tell you what you're missing. Each week, they take their cameras into a factory and shoot the process of constructing several products. One week you'll get pretzels, cymbals and computer mice. The next, honey baked hams, light bulbs and sail boards. Sound awesome? It is.

Recently, the kids wandered in as I was watching. They were instantly riveted to the screen. Unblinking. William stared at the TV as if it were about to dispense chocolate bars. Now, when I offer them some TV time, I ask, "What would you kids like to watch?" "How It's Made!" they scream. "How It's Made!" I tear up a little.

Exhibit B

They're insane for electronics. When I get the laptop out and plop it on my lap, the kids sprint over. Not only because they think they'll get a chance to play Starfall, but because they get to press buttons. Tiny fingers peck at the keyboard like seagulls. I decided to test my theory buy giving them a busted computer keyboard to bang on. The love it so much, it's in the toy box to this day.

Exhibit C

This is the most telling of all. The have an unquenchable thirst for information. I know that's part of being a toddler, but it's like they actually derive life-sustaining nourishment from facts and figures.

For example, William's favorite words are "What's" and "that". He never stops asking, nor is he ever satisfied with the answer.

"Daddy, what's that?"

"That's a bird, honey."

"But what IS that?"

"Um...oh, a toucan."

"But how can that be a toucan?"

"Well, a toucan is a kind of a bird."

He scrunches his face. "But what IS that?"

Exactly, my young nerd. The world is a knowable system. You may anticipate a future of Sci-Fi, logic puzzles and more. It's going to be awesome.

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