My dinner on Wednesday...

[pheloniusfriar]

Through a series of fortuitous events (enabled by some serious hard work on my part several years ago that allowed my name to come up in conversation at the exact right time), I had dinner with astronaut Chris Hadfield this week (no, not one-on-one, it was part of a group dinner). I did meet him though and had a chance to speak what little Russian I remember from my 1st year class (two years ago) with him, and he seemed to appreciate my amusing attempts. As he said to me about the process of learning that language, "it's the first ten years that are the worst...", heh. I repeated Hadfield's comment to my (extremely) Russian co-worker at school today and he seemed pleased that the complexity of his native tongue is something to be treated with apprehension by non-native speakers. As I said, he is very Russian!

Photos or it didn't happen, eh? Fair enough...



Man, I gotta lose some weight, I guess I'll add that to my list of plans... for serious, I think it's finally time! I'm actually about to start a round of new goals, so it's timely to raise that as a priority with myself.

Well, off to get some sleep so I'll be ready for tomorrow's little adventures!

Comments

[popelaksmi]

!!!!!!!!!! *dies* !!!!!!!!!!!!

[pheloniusfriar]

*hugs*

:)

attempt numero dos

[kweenbee]

Ok wow, awesome, so cool, amazing and fun! Love that you grab opportunities that come your way instead of the regretting later you hadn't. The life you lead is amazing and interesting because you make it that way :)

I confidently feel that I too have met Mr Hadfield by proxy thank you!!

I have already *SQUEEEEEED* in person but seriously!! AHHHHHHH so outstanding that you had the evening that you did!!!!

Awesome pic thanks for sharing. :)

Re: attempt numero dos

[pheloniusfriar]

Attempt numero dos? There was an attempt numero uno? heh...

Yeah, it's all about being open to experience and trying to grab them when they arise. Unfortunately, with doing two degrees at university and dealing with having a family all at once I find that I "hermit" far too much and am missing out on many opportunities (for companionship and fun times with friends if nothing else).

Hadfield was a true trooper and stayed on stage after the dinner for hours just allowing people to say hi and shake his hand (and take photos, etc.). When they say you need incredible endurance to be an astronaut, I think it's more for when you're back on Earth doing social engagements than the actual "being in space" part ;).

The guy who came on to wrap up the dinner and speeches after dinner had known Hadfield for twenty years and had kept in touch through it all. He said (to paraphrase, I don't remember exactly), "Chris is a true hero, but moreso he's an exceptional person operating in exceptional situations with amazing ability. But when you talk with Chris, you do not feel diminished by his accomplishments, nor does he attempt to render himself ordinary, but he raises each and every one of us to his level, we all become exceptional through sharing with him". Heh, I got misty-eyed even writing that... that's the power of Chris Hadfield: he demonstrates that we don't need to knock others down to bring ourselves up and maintain a position of authority and power, but we can use individual accomplishment to make us all a little more accomplished just for paying attention and caring that someone did well.