Skip to main content

So Long Kim

Kim Peek died over the weekend. Most of you may not have heard of him, but he was one of the people who served as the inspiration for Dustin Hoffman's character in the movie "Rain Man". He was known as a "mega-savant" and had pretty much total recall of everything he had ever read or heard. His brain was so unique, that NASA even started studying it.

I met him only the one time. He and his father came and spoke at my ward several years ago for a Family Home Evening activity. Let me tell you, his abilities were impressive. And it gave me one of my biggest thrills to date when he passed around the actual Best Picture Oscar that was won by "Rain Man" and we all got to hold it.

He's the only person I ever met who could give me a run for my money on Academy Awards Trivia.

Comments

Doney Days said…
How sad! But he was so amazing! He came to my Junior High School for an assembly. I will never forget it! Thanks for the post. I didn't know he had died.
December 22, 2009 at 12:46 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Goals

One of my goals this year is to go on a backpacking trip. It's something I've always wanted to do, but been too intimidated to try. Well, a few weeks ago, one of the girls in the Ward invited me on a backpacking trip to the Uinta's this summer. This time I immediately said yes. All was well until a few days later when reality set in and the thought of carrying 30-35 pounds of pack on my back while hiking in rough terrain just about made me cave. I did not have all the gear I would need, nor was I in good enough shape. The gear is something easily worked out. Most of it I can either purchase myself, or borrow from highly motivated friends. The physical conditioning was another matter altogether, so I decided it was time to get in better shape. I've been pretty good at exercising regularly, and I'm in ok shape for someone approaching a milestone birthday (if I say so myself). But I knew I needed to put in some extra miles, as well as add strength to my legs ...
3 comments
Read more

Weird Al and Iowa

So a couple of weeks ago while watching TV, I happened to click on an A&E Biography of "Weird Al" Yankovic. Boy - did that bring back some fun High School memories. There were interviews with Dr. Demento (Weird Al started out on his radio show"), and snippets from some true comedy classics - for instance "Eat It", "Like a Surgeon", and others. I remember my best friend Jill really being into his "Polkas on '45" album. I went to High School in Iowa (Go Hawks!), and one thing about the midwest is that someone like "Weird Al" really fits in there. It's the land of brats and beer, and polka (I mean, the Iowa marching band's favorite song is the polka classic "In Heaven There Ain't No Beer"), and people there have a sense of humor - they don't take themselves too seriously. They work hard, have a good time, and are all about community. They take care of each other. When I get to heaven, there...
3 comments
Read more

Company 5K

Friday evening was the company 5K, and most of my team and their families made the effort to participate. The weather was perfect, and the route took us through the neighborhoods around the main building. We ended up finishing in about 45 minutes. Here we all are at the Finish line (l to r: Dave, his daughter and son, Robin, me, Tiffany, her boyfriend Scott, Sudhir, Bindu, and their daughter Naomi) After the 5K, I decided I needed a post-race recovery meal, and got myself down to the local DQ for a pumpkin pie blizzard.
1 comment
Read more