One of the things about being married to a scientist (Amanda is a microbiologist) is that the genetic pool is pretty deep. Thus it was no surprise today when Ben and I went to see his grandpa (Ben makes it clear, he’s no longer my dad, he’s grandpa) at Cathedral High School, where he now teaches complicated math in his retirement, that Ben decided to show what he knew. In fact, and the picture proves it, he thumbed his nose at the Algebra 1 book and picked up the Algebra 2. He finished it in a matter of minutes as well and we were then on our way.

There are two things that struck me in all this, the first of course is why anyone would come out of retirement (my dad is a actually a psychologist who just happened to teach math before completing his PhD.)? My dad came out retirement pretty quick. He is the Brett Farve of math (without all the indecision). The second is this, Ben is smart, too smart in fact……and I wonder if all the bossy academic DNA of my wife pushed aside and/or tricked that athletic DNA of mine. I suppose I shouldn’t complain, the way Ben does Algebra he will probably do something spectacular that will make him famous someday…..we will just pray that it will be legal.

I am sure that my wife would worry that his finishing an Algebra 2 book in less than 5 minutes could be possibly identified as the “Tirman Method”too (the lesser Tirman Method designed by Al (my uncle) and Rich (my dad) Tirman….not the greater Tirman Method that actually works designed by Uncle Wally). I have a Bachelors, Masters, and a Doctoral degree, but I was suspect about even finishing high school. I read A LOT of books just like that, and have a library filled with books that I highlighted the important parts for later study…..and though most of the books are highlighted about 20 pages in, some I did actually make it to page 35! Yep, I use the lesser method.

So all this is to say, Ben will probably end up a neurosurgeon (probably by 14) or he can just work for me as a priest and we can spend most meetings talking about our amazing high school sports careers. For now though I say let’s just wait and see. After all, being an academic is not all it is cracked up to be…….for if the proof is in the pudding my wife should have been the one to “marry up” and not me! You see, athletes can be smart……and we don’t damage our brains with all those stinky markers.

Goodnight my friends and God Bless.

Tommy+