An Interesting Man

Over the past week or so, this customer has been coming in to have his vehicle worked on. Well today, he actually stayed for awhile and we had the best conversations. He is in his 70s I'm sure. He joined the war when he was fifteen, apparently has no birth certificate, went to school in France, lived in Spain for six years, taught at a few universities in chemistry and mathematics. I mean just an impressive list of accomplishments. During the war he had bomb-related injuries to his face, you wouldn't really know that's what it was from, considering he looks like any other older gentleman, I don't mean that as bad as it sounds, but only that you have to take a close look to realize something was wrong. He apparently solved some math hypothesis that many mathematicians have been trying to solve for years, but he's not going to tell anyone because he wants people to figure it out for themselves. I don't know if any of this is true, but he was full of good stories.
He went out of the country several times and the government had to bring him back to the states because he isn't supposed to leave the country ever. He claimed to deliver explosives to Turkey and France while spying on Russia. And that the government is after him at all times and people follow him wherever he goes. Ha, a little crazy I'm sure, but so amusing to listen to his stories. Best part of my job is meeting all kinds of different people. I always say, It takes all kinds in this world.
Being as smart as he was, he 'challenged' teachers and their classes in math and chemistry, being self taught at first, no one liked him or wanted him around at the universities. He decided to go to school and get a real education. Started out wanting to be a vet then realized how much he enjoyed math and chemistry, and how little he liked seeing animals hurt, he changed his major. He then became a teacher. He said others called him a teacher of perfection, teaching on Thanksgiving, and most holidays. The students didn't mind, but the other teachers would get furious.
I think we talked for about an hour and a half, and by 'we talked' I mean 'he talked'. Very interesting guy, lived a full life and still is this crazy, smart, old man. The best thing he said is while he was teaching he realized, you can't teach people what to think, you can only teach them how to think.
Another day at the office, huh? By far the highlight of my day, as sad as that sounds, it's very true!!