As a writer I was conflicted. On the one hand my absence from the airwaves suggests to me that there is a need to apologize to my gentle readers. The other is a desire to start a blog entry with a quote. Something memorable uttered by a famous person or a ghost writer somewhere. A thinly disguised level of dept infused into something grammatically quaint.
The word alumni offer conjures an image of older people who were once where we are. Dressed in suits and real-life attire, hair thinning, sometimes graying, they probably speak of the world as a renaissance man spoke of Da Vinci's work - with a disturbing familiarity. They might even tell jokes about Leo DV and the local wench.
Even their dinner manners seem officious. Everything is properly set out on their person. A controlled smile, a pat on the back.
But ah the pleasure of seeing two of them reunite.
At the moment this was published I am considering an interesting possibility in which I will live amongst alumni in their natural habitats to learn about their behaviors/mating rituals/hunting styles.
They jump from their seats, rush to each other, pats on back, the smaller of the two gets picked up by the other. A quick succession of unintelligible bon mots are exchanged which are cause for laughing and celebration. A quick nod,glance,look at the bar and they saunter over, cool as cats, order a Perino or an Amstel or something that lets the world know they're no longer college kids but sophisticated young men.
A stark contrast to the squealing and hair pulling of B.F.F.A.E.A.E.s after a summer away from each other.
Do not be fooled gentle reader. I LOVE ALUMNI.
Talking to them reminds me that there is more to this breakneck speed race we call an education. Their worldly knowledge which usually simmers down to entertaining and delightful dinner conversation ranges from the outlook on debt-equity markets to living in Chelsea. Oh and let's talk a little about the 500-pound gorilla - Google - or simply discuss the merits of a company whose main objective is the people but has the positive side of effect of money.
They come back and we go to them. The need to be a part of a larger organization is a powerful motivator. Get to know a stranger who knows what you do with over 50% of the time. In a Card moment we all feel Ender's monitor go out as we meet our controllers.
Hi John Doe. In a Venn Diagram our overlap is a considerable fraction of total surface area. I've been told you were once selected based on the same criteria as I was. Your social interaction score is >55. Want to talk?
A quick nod,glance,look at the bar and we saunter over, cool as cats, order a Perino or an Amstel or something that lets the world know they're not college kids but young colleagues sharing experiences.
Macallan's. Neat. Please.
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