thanks from a Nebula nominee

[sergebroom]

While I was away, I finally received the latest issue of the SFWA Bulletin. It contains the list of the various Nebula nominations, along with a few words by the nominees. I see that one of them thanked me for my very humble help with some French translation.

Yay!

Comments

[miltonthales.livejournal.com]

I had a similar experience once. I was taking a Spanish class at the U of Guam in 1969; one of our projects was translating an early Franciscan or Jesuit priest's journal from his time on the island (19th century, I think). I forgot all about it.

Ten years later a book appears at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, where my mother is cataloging librarian. She reads the acknowledgments and about drops the book, for there in a list of ten translators is my name.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

I take it that the tome-dropping was a sign of her being approvingly impressed.

[miltonthales.livejournal.com]

Impressed or astonished, I'm not sure which. I was taking Spanish (college sophomore level) only because I needed to fill a 3-credit hole in my schedule, and they didn't offer French on Guam. I'd had French from 7th grade on and was reasonably good at it, which is why I figured I could fake my way through another Romance language for a semester. I did, too. Got a B.

Unfortunately I've never had occasion to use either language very frequently, so my skills have eroded to slightly above zero. My French is suitable for answering crossword puzzle questions ("3-letter word for summer in Lyons?" "été").