“And then, just to show them, I’ll sail a ka-troo and bring back an it-kutch, a preep and a pruu, a knerkle, a nerd, and a seer sucker too.”

Dr. Seuss was a genius. A regular Shakespeare in his time. And, much like Shakespeare coined the term ‘Olympian’, Seuss dubbed his own hero: the nerd. Okay, so maybe in context a nerd doesn’t seem like much (its actually just this small, angry creature), but in recent years, its become something completely awesome.

In fact, nerdism has become practically glorified in today’s media. If you own a tv, chances are are that you’ve heard of the  “The Big Bang Theory”, which is an award-winning sitcom that showcases a group of geeks and their hilarious escapades, including the infamous Sheldon Cooper, who is the ultimate example of a nerd. Every so often, ” The Big Bang Theory” will reference exciting aspects of geek culture, like comic books or cosplay. Cosplay is a fun thing people like to do at cons, or conventions, where they dress up and act like their favorite characters from books, movies, and even video games. There’s actually another show called “Heroes of Cosplay” in which  you can follow several cosplayers as they prepare for cons. One of these cosplayers, Yaya Han, has actually taken up cosplay as a profession (making her the first of her kind), selling merchandise and judging at competitions. She’s even gotten to the point where she has her own action figure, which is basically the equivalent of getting a Grammy in the nerd world.

But what is a nerd, you ask? Up until about the 1980s, nerd was used as a derogatory term for someone who was too obsessive, or too intellectual, or just socially awkward. Nowadays, however, nerds are being romanticised. You can see people waslking down the halls with big, bulky glasses without lenses or tshirts that say “Talk nerdy to me”. There’s nothing specifically wrong with that, but these people are missing the point. On the other hand, you’ve got the increda-geeks who go to cons and prey on lesser nerds who can’t name the original cast of Star Trek. These people are just as wrong.

Being a nerd is about one thing: enthusiasm-that passion for what you love, shown by hopping up and down in your seat at the midnight premiere of The Hobbit, or singing at the top of your lungs to your favorite band’s new album, or- as much as I hate to admit it- even cheering on your favorite sports team at their home game. All that matters is that you feel that happiness without having  to tone it down or be ironic.

Therefore, if you want to be the next Sheldon Cooper or Yaya Han, or just a generally happy person, you’ve just got to love what you love. So, in the immortal words of Dr. Seuss, “If you never did, you should. These things are fun and fun is good”.

Toby pushed open the door of his small upstate apartment, tossing his hat and coat onto the couch as he entered and pressed the button to his answering machine. He looked around the trashed room wearily, barely listening to the droll of the message, already well aware of the money he owed the bank. The wall paper was peeling and the floors creaked as he walked, but it the location made its living worth skyrocket. Toby muted the machine and crossed the room to look out the window, unsurprised to see the usual view of a bustling street far below him. Right across from his residency was a casual little French bistro and just down the street was the newspaper firm that he had poured the last 14 years of his life. Longer, actually, if he counted when his father had brought him there for visits.  He sighed, loosening his tie with one hand and pulling out his desk chair with the other. As he sat down, he stretched his arms before him and loosened his fingers.

                               

Mother,

                Thanks for the letter; I’m glad they’re treating you well out there. Over here, though, I’m very concerned. The paper is going down the drain. My employees are dropping like flies, half called to duty, and half of what’s left leaving because of wages…  I can’t offer anymore than the $7.86 a week, with the debts and the threat of foreclosure on my tail.. And there’s this woman at the office, she refuses to comply to anything- it’s infuriating! She called me a snob yesterday in front of my head editor, could you believe? I would fire her, but I don’t have much confidence that I could spare losing another worker…

               

                Toby sat, tapping the ‘j’ key of his typewriter, uncertain of what else to say.

                “Forget it,” he said to no one in particular, resolving to finish the letter later. He leaned back in his chair, running his hands over his face in exhaustion.  He was so tired of it all. The only solution for now, he thought, was to go to bed and so he did.