I didn’t realize that you’d met Paul that long ago. It is a strange, small world, isn’t it?

I’d love to hear more about the motocross experience. Can’t say I’d want to do it, but I bet it’s a great story.

That’s cool that you got to spend his birthday with your son, and I’m very glad that you had a good time together.

5th gen is indeed quite remarkable. Heck, I’m only 5th generation in the U.S. along several of my lines! Two of my great-great grandparents came over from Switzerland and settled around New Glarus, Wisconsin, in the 1860s. I’ve got other lines that go back twice that far in the States, but I don’t think anything coming close to five generations in the same state. Do you get a medal or a key to the state or anything?

That must have been quite a blow to hear of his assasination shortly after you saw him. Tragedies like that always seem to hit harder if you’ve seen or had some recent contact with the person, even if it was distant (like attending a rally). My sister was at Stevie Ray Vaughn’s last concert; I was doing a radio show in Austin, TX, that night and had been talking up the fact that my sister was getting to see him live up north. Because someone called the news in while I was on air, I actually learned that he’d been killed in the helicopter crash leaving the concert site before she did. Quite weird.

Thanks again! Consider yourself retroactively asked, and permanently invited to share this space!

1. I first met the famous PZed in Eugene circa 1980 while hanging out with the UO Democrats. I found him harder to understand then than I do now. He has remained consistent in his perspective. I have learned much. I last saw him 3 years ago, at the same time I first met Phi in Morris. Small world.

2. I was once a minor professional motocross racer

3. My only son was with me for his 22nd birthday this week, which was the first time that has happened since he was 16. A wonderful day.

4. Along the the lines of your Erdos number, I am a very rare 5th generation native Oregonian. Oregon is known for its large influx of immigrants from other states.

5. I saw RFK at a rally in Bend Oregon a little over a week before he was shot down in LA. He did not win the Oregon primary, which some attribute to his stance on gun control.