2005 RG Impressions
Adam Smargon

I met Batman!

No, seriously! I went to my first RG in Manchester over a weekend. We're all wearing nametags, and so mine has "ADAM" in large type. Riding the elevator alone from the top level to the lobby, it stops somewhere in the middle floors, and a tall man wearing an overcoat, sunglasses and a yellow hat enters. He notices my nametag and says, "Hello, Adam. My name is Adam too." We shake hands. "So tell me, Adam, what do you do for a living?" I reply, "I'm a graduate student at the University of New Hampshire. What do you do, Adam?"

He said, "Oh, I'm a graduate student of... Hollywood. Been doin' that for about 40 years... my mug's been all over the place." It was at that point I got a good look at his face: "Say, you look familiar. Are you Adam West?"

"Yes, I am."

"May I have your autograph?" I produced a pen and the MENSA weekend program of events, and he signed it: "To Adam... Adam West."

While he was signing it, I asked him, "What brings you to Manchester?"

"I'm doing a play called 'Love Letters' with Dawn Wells." I told him I had seen the play about ten years ago in Gainesville, Florida... with two different actors. I did NOT tell him to come to the top floor of the hotel (where most of the MENSA activities were), because it was evident from his clothing that he wanted to remain incognito, and over one hundred Mensans would mob him. As we got to the lobby, I said, "It was a pleasure meeting you, Adam." I walked out of the elevator, never to see him again.

I had a great time this weekend. Seeing Adam West was an extra thrill, to be sure, but I also:

- ran the all-day-and-all-night games room

- was one of two dozen speakers (my topic? "Don't Save The Planet")

- ate some really good food (great barbecue for Saturday dinner! chocolate orgy for dessert!)

- met many more MENSAns from around New England and the United States, and talked about nothing, like nuclear physics or how to control the world

And the best part?

They had a dedicated music room for the first time. People were encouraged to bring instruments, and some professional musicians brought their own instruments and gave all kinds of learning sessions. Karaoke, jam sessions, et cetera. I used to play the drums, but that was in high school. I did get a chance to sit behind their drum kit no less than four times, and within five minutes I was jammin' with the best of 'em. I took part in three jam sessions (my first three!), playing songs from Eric Clapton, Simon & Garfunkel, The Everly Brothers, and some other songs that I did not recognize (and therefore had to fake it the best way I knew how). What a tremendous amount of fun... and it's always nice to know that I haven't lost too much of my drumming skills! Yeah, it's like riding a bike... except the pedals are for different purposes.

I'm gonna try like hell to get to the next RG, as well as trips to the Annual Gatherings (New Orleans this year!) and World Gatherings (Orlando next year!) that won't break my bank account.

Much of the events, food, and discussions reminded me of get-togethers with some of my good college buddies. A great time. I'm coming back for next year!

Sincerely,

Adam Joshua Smargon ------ Doctoral Student
Natural Resources and Environmental Studies
----- The University of New Hampshire -----