I received some very good news the other day: my blog has made me famous in the science community. After announcing my world tour I received the following very kind e-mail at molly_barnacle@yahoo.com:
I am a marine biologist -- I am curator emeritus of fishes at the Oregon Coast Aquarium and former president of the American Society of Ichthyologists. I have been reading your blog with great interest. You are perhaps the first fish to share with the wider world the inner workings of your psyche, and I want to tell you that your writings are of great interest to the marine sciences community.
Though I am no longer an active member of the scientific staff, I still maintain close ties. I would like to cordially invite you to stay at our aquarium here in Oregon as you go on your world tour. I believe your willingness to share your experiences via the Web - particularly, with human beings - is unique, and that the staff and visitors of OCA would be delighted if you could come.
I am reasonably sure that I can arrange for your trip, and likely even, your entire world tour, to be paid by our aquarium. Because your work is unprecedented, it would be a great privilege for us at OCA to sponsor your work and travels. I can also use my extensive connections with my colleagues at other aquariums around the world to ensure that you receive only the best accommodations available. As you know, some of the conditions at certain aquariums (that shall remain, for the moment, unnamed) are spartan at best and downright toxic at worst.
I can imagine that this offer of generosity coming from out of the blue would be a great surprise, even a shock, to you. But please know that, actually, you have given all of us humans a great gift. We at OCA only ask in return that you give a public lecture in Portland. My agent in New York could seek out Terry Gross or any other journalist you prefer to participate in an on-stage conversation with you.
Please write me back directly, or via your blog, if you prefer, if you would like to learn more about all this. I would like to conclude by noting your dream about your mother. If you like, I would be happy to help you trace your genealogy. At OCA I can use the latest technology available to read your genetic profile. You may not be aware of this -- because we have yet to announce it -- the Goldfish Genome Project (GGP) was begun two years ago here and has just been completed. I was the the director and principal investigator (PI) on the project. I also speak fluent Portuguese, a result of my having learned the language during an undergraduate internship in Brazil. My colleague in Lisbon, Senhor João São Vicente, may be able to assist us. I cannot promise any great revelations, but it may be possible to reunite you with your extended family using this new GGP data.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Very truly yours,
Dr. Sam Liu
Curator emeritus of Fishes, Oregon Coast Aquarium
They love me, they really love me. And even better yet, unlike so many who just love me for my body, they love me for my mind. This is just incredible news. It looks like I will be traveling in style on my world tour. I was afraid that I would have to hitchhike all the way to Lisbon.
special thanks to Shine Ling.