As tends to be the standard for my birthday, I received a variety of science fiction and geek related digital birthday greetings this year. (Thanks for the Doctor Who TARDIS card, Christi!) To my surprise, the best genre birthday salutation actually came from my departmental VP, John Beckett, on the e-card from my workplace.
In case you’re unaware of the provenance of this statement, it’s derived from the dramatic climax to the 1982 Star Trek movie The Wrath of Khan, the second featuring the original series cast, in which Spock sacrifices his life to save the Enterprise.*
Spock: Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...
Kirk: ...the needs of the few...
Spock: ...or the one. I never took the Kobayashi Maru test until now. What do you think of my solution?
I've worked with John for almost 12 years, and during that time he's demonstrated about the normal level of geek knowledge (if that's not a contradiction in terms), and this was such an appropriate and clever birthday greeting for a science fiction fan that I actually wondered if John had asked for professional assistance** in crafting it.
Regardless, I sent John a note congratulating him on what I consider to be THE BEST slightly obscure but perfectly phrased science fiction movie reference birthday greeting that I have ever received in my life, and he brilliantly doubled down with a simple reply:
“Thanks, Obi-Wan.”
- Sid
*
I realize this is a spoiler, but honestly, The Wrath of Khan was released almost 40
years ago, I think that’s outside the statute of limitations on spoilers.
** Or asked Google™ - same thing.
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