my place in the world

yesterday, m.o.p.s. and i had a conversation with our neighbor, who is a hotshot geneticist and also pretty old (77, he reported). i used to be under the impression that he was a communist, but i think he's not and that was just wishful thinking on my part. however, he does come across as a very thoughtful and ethical guy, extremely kind and good-humored, and knows a lot of stuff, and travels all over the world all the time. i have no doubt that he is on the side of Good. he likes to tell a lot of stories about, say, nixon, or the cold war, or where he was on 9/11, or some funny way he was quoted in a foreign newspaper, or his kids and wife, or about how far women have come, or about how much he loves chickens (that's what his genetics work is on), or whatever. he also has stories about famous geneticists, including ones i know about like barbara mcclintock and j.b.s. haldane, both of whom he has met. he is super down to earth and actually modest in that really specific and unique way that can only come with supreme confidence combined with innate kindness and, let's face it, old age. i'll just say i'm very impressed with his accomplishments, cosmopolitanism, politics, and manner. we should all hope to have such purpose in life and such easy-going generosity of spirit.

. . .which is why i was especially embarrassed yesterday during our conversation to realize i was wearing a t-shirt that says, in elaborate script across the front, "fucking classy."