Accross the Big Blue

Well, being in Budapest is absolutely beautiful. The family here is, let us just say: old. In a nutshell my Hungarian father László, is 80 years old. Yup. He is officially 20 years older than my mother, who is from New Jersey. So, for the time I am visiting, and living with a 80 year old man and his 75 year old sister.

Some of my favorite material in my comedy routine is about growing up with a Hungarian father. László Pongó is the only living Hungarian National Champion and American National Champion in world class fencing. So, his tongue is a quick and sharp as his sword. That is how my sense of humor evolved into the bizzaro mix of passionate jokes about the battle of love and war between the sexes, and sports.

Old people are amazing because they have been through so much that we can only read about these days. My father was smuggled out of the country when Hungary was invaded and he was black listed. But before he left he smuggled cigarettes and comfort items to his friends in the Jewish ghetto. When I asked him about it, he yelled, "VAT!" He can't say W very well. "It is nothing you wouldn't do for your own friends. Qvit making such a big deal abot dese tings!"

He can also be a very humble man, in this strange passionate way. He is an incredible person.