Thank you so much for finding this letter, Aksel gave the after-dinner talk
at the ENC in Orlando that year and the whole gathering joined in singing!
What a beautiful moment it was, too bad it was not recorded as per ENC's
policies ...
Yes, we all miss Aksel and his great, sometimes impish, sense of humor.
Virgil Simplaceanu
> Extract from łThe NMR NewsletterČ (TAMU Newsletter) No. 470 November
> 1997,
> letter from Aksel A. Bothner-By:
>
> 10 October 1997
> Dear Barry
> On the 20th of September some of my good friends threw a party for
> me,
> and for Joe Dadok, Irving Lowe, and Bob Schumacher, in the form of a
> Symposium held at Pittsburgh, celebrating 40 years of work on NMR in
> Pittsburgh. We all had a glorious time, and sentimental reminiscences
> were
> flowing like wine. We were treated to some spectacular talks, too, with
> impressive new ideas and accomplishments in applying NMR to all sorts of
> new
> things.
> As I am just about to bow out of this business, I was rash enough to
> compose some lyrics to an old show tune, and actually sing it to the
> assembled multitude at the end of the proceedings. The idea was to convey
> to
> all of them my feelings about the joys, satisfactions, and occasional
> problems in spending most of my life working in this field. It went over
> pretty well, and in fact, Ted Becker suggested (as you know) that I send
> the
> words to you for the NEWSLETTER. So here they are. I do not expect to get
> credit for a technical contribution for this letter.
>
> THEREčS NO BUSINESS LIKE OUR BUSINESS
> Therečs no business like our business, like no business I know -
> There you sit a-staring at the ceiling
> Wondering why the damn thing will not go
> All at once you get this marvelous feeling
> You understand it, and so......
>
> You can do things, all sorts of new things, things that none have ever
> done
> before
> You can make those nuclei turn somersaults, do the WALTZ, refocus faults,
> You can bring precession to six complete halts,
> Then go on with the show.
>
> And Oh! The wonderful feeling, you know youčll soon be a star.
> You send the nuclei a-reeling, then youčre talking at Asilomar
> You can name it what you find appealing,
> (Well camelspin might be too far).
>
> Still therečs no business like our business
> It gives me an inward glow -
> Everybody sitting here has seized the chance,
> To join the dance, and make them prance.
> Just write a few proposals and youčll soon get grants
> To go on with the show!
>
> Best,
> Aksel
>
Received on Tue Feb 21 2017 - 14:17:24 MST