So What's Not to Love?

A close pal of mine forwarded this article about U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu going on record as saying that he's a nerd.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5536QM20090604

What I want to know is:  what's so bad about that?  In Chu's case, he's 15th in line to the presidency.  He has security detail.  He won a Nobel Prize.  He gave the address at Harvard's commencement ceremony (where he admitted to being a card carrying nerd).

Maybe it's because I _am_ a nerd and have always been one, but I think nerds can be pretty cool (OK OK so this is like maternity fashion and jumbo shrimp).  We are usually straight up about things because we don't have the savvy or interest to play relationship games.  We're smart.  We don't blow the monthly budget on fashion or sports car payments...and we make good money doing sci/tech jobs.  Often we have a great sense of humor, if you're quick enough to catch it and you're immersed enough in nerd culture to understand the references.  At a moment's notice we can drop whatever we're doing and give you the grail to solving your Sudoku, Jumble, or crossword.  If you're lucky enough to be loved and respected by a nerd, we're very loyal.  Unless you turn traitor, and then we will come up with some diabolical plan to make you wish you were never born.  Nyuk nyuk nyuk.  (Whoops, I was just kidding about that last part.  As far as you know.)  We get to do neat things like give speeches at graduations (I, as salutatorian, spoke at my own) and tune up the band before concerts (this was my twelve year old son, the music and academic nerd).

I do admit that, as a teen, it seemed as though the people with the "right" clothes and "right" friends had it all going on.  Later I found out that quite a few of them admired the nerds, because they were allowed to be themselves and do what they loved instead of spending lots of time worrying about trying to fit in and keep up with the popular kids.  

Had I been at Harvard yesterday, I would've given Chu a standing ovation.  Give it up for the nerds!  And take another look at all the nerds in your life to see what else they have to offer you.  You might be pleasantly surprised.