- I once made dictionary-reading a pastime -- because I have already read all the encyclopedias, National geographic mags, old English textbooks, and local newspaper back issues available at our house, my aunt's, even my neighbor's. And that heavy tome of a Merriam-Webster's dictionary my father bought was the only one remaining thing unscathed to spend geeky moments with. Well right now I can't help but find my old self ridiculous.
- I memorized by heart all the world's countries, their exact location around the globe, their capital cities, their neighboring countries, and their corresponding currencies when I was a mere 12. Just for the heck of it. And my neighbor thinks I'm a gifted child -- you know, like the ones on television advertising overpriced milk formulations -- all because I can tell the old hag the capital of Zimbabwe or Honduras or Cayman Islands. I wasn't a gifted child. I was a geek. There's a complete difference. Any geeky child can do it -- all it takes is interest and the right resources.
- Trivia was like drugs to me - the more I have, the more I couldn't stop. Did you know that ants 'milk' aphids in roses for plant juice, just like a farmer would with a cow? Do you even know what an aphid is? Like who the hell cares, yet I know. I wanted to know. I was good at trivia -- so good I would have made millions had I joined Kris Aquino's game shows way back. I had to yell at the TV the answer of a million-buck question that the idiot contestant doesn't even have the slightest idea. Too bad I was a minor. Yet it was one of my father's ultimate dreams that I will be able to try my luck on a trivia game show when I cease to become a minor. Now I'm of legal age, well too bad I ended up becoming a lazy bum.
- I was so engrossed with my books that my mother would actually resort into paying me money just to go out of the house and play with the neighboring kids! But I didn't want to play. I didn't want to get tired. Being tired means grasping for air again. Asthma really takes it's toll on growing kids. Maybe that's one reason why they become nerds in the first place.
- I enrolled myself when I was 7 years old in a computer class (take note: word star, lotus123, and all those nifty programs from the Jurassic period). All my classmates were adults! I wouldn't forget how I kicked their butts and egos off, being a child and all (wonder if they know what an aphid is, hehe..).
- I could count 1-10 in 12 different languages when I was 11. Make that down to 2 as of the current status. Well up until now I actually blame the general anesthesia I was at when I was operated for acute appendicitis, makes me think there are still anesthesia left inside me deteriorating my brain cells. Or we could just say that I am aging to cut explanations short.
- I read the daily newspaper when I was six. Now I turn to the newspaper only for wrapping purposes.
- Philippine and World history were my high school interests -- so bad they turned me up as a National History Quiz Bee contestant. Right now who would believe that I am really bad at dates - oh the irony.
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Gone where the days where I look almost opposite the nerd inside me.
Hello glasses. Damn.
Trying my first prescription eyeglasses for the first time was like a eureka and a depression moment at the same time. Like wow, everything became clearer with them on, so wow, my eyes are officially not 20/20 anymore. Damn. I have silently nicknamed myself as 'the geek without the glasses'. Now I'm just a geek.
I ordered the sporty frame instead of the ordinary geeky one for my new eyewear -- at an extra cost (well double the price actually). Makes the eyeglasses more un-geeky. I also chose to cash out extra bucks to add in the special transition lenses upgrade -- they make the eyeglasses turn dark when exposed to sunlight, (and thus, tadaaa.. instant sunglasses) and revert back to normal in the shade. Well, it makes the price go triple for that fancy pair -- all for the sake of looking less of a geek (if upgrades were ultimately possible for curing colorblindedness, well I would have added that in my package, too, no second thoughts!).
I must admit, every now and then, when the opportunity strikes, the geek inside me reveals itself in small doses. And to be honest -- I actually enjoy it when it does. I still like the story of the Greek myths. I still look out for the Little and the Big Dipper on a starry night. I still find the Egyptian culture and history mesmerizing. I still want to fulfill my father's dream of me joining a trivia game show. And I miss watching ants milking aphids on a rose stem. I still have those bits of geekiness I can never take out of me. Glasses or no glasses, it's already a part of who I am.
Up until now, nobody can say at first glance that I was as a notorious nerd. Hell I look more like an action movie goon than a geek!
With my new pair of eyeglasses on I definitely look different.. an action movie goon... with glasses!
Well without the glasses, who would have thought that I was the epitome of geekness a long time ago -- a living proof that bookworms of epic proportions do exist.
I must admit, every now and then, when the opportunity strikes, the geek inside me reveals itself in small doses. And to be honest -- I actually enjoy it when it does. I still like the story of the Greek myths. I still look out for the Little and the Big Dipper on a starry night. I still find the Egyptian culture and history mesmerizing. I still want to fulfill my father's dream of me joining a trivia game show. And I miss watching ants milking aphids on a rose stem. I still have those bits of geekiness I can never take out of me. Glasses or no glasses, it's already a part of who I am.
Up until now, nobody can say at first glance that I was as a notorious nerd. Hell I look more like an action movie goon than a geek!
With my new pair of eyeglasses on I definitely look different.. an action movie goon... with glasses!
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| An ant 'milking' an aphid (sorry, just can't get over the aphid thing =P) |
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