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Posted Sun, Jun 3, 2007

You '82 (In Two Days)

By Artie Isaac

You are very dear to me.
You said, "Come to the Reunion."
You attended, at considerable cost, inconvenience and interruption.
You warmly embraced everyone, enriching every attempt to cross a courtyard.
You recalled important moments, long forgotten. (Two weeks ago, I thought I had no memories of Yale. You brought back a flood of rich, detailed memories of us, by uncorking my hippocampus beneath the temporal lobe. You taught me that, too.)
You accepted thanks for the secrets of life that you taught in the Dining Hall and the Dramat.
You filled everyone with pride with tales of your victories.
You showed little photographs of your children. You sang their names.
You demonstrated your dignity, by being honest about yourself.
You took me to Sallyís for the best pizza Iíd had in 25 years.
You brought meaning to Bright College Years: ìBut time and change shall not avail / To break the friendships formed at Yale.î
You filled me with such gratitude that tears welled in my eyes.
You described your work and your diversions.
You shared details of profound loss and how you faced it.
You laughed that Bart Giamatti, welcoming us in 1978, said, ìI know what you are thinking: admissions made a mistake.î Admissions made no mistake with you.
You diagnosed my mild case of bursitis.
You validated my performance in Our Town, an effort I long ago dismissed.
You smiled at me. Perhaps you had never known my name. But you smiled at seeing my face again.
You traded intelligent arguments about God, country, Yale and water buffalo milk.
You walked in paths both well-trod (in museums) and forbidden (on rooftops).
You said youíve quoted me for 25 years, reminding me of words Iíd long forgotten.
You shared your stories of challenge and crisis ó and determination, confidence and reinvention.
You told me that my love letter ó the one inviting you to attend the 25th, especially if it was your first return to Yale ó actually inspired you to come. (I am thrilled by this.)
You spoke with me, when 25 years ago I was too nervous to even approach you. (As a friend pointed out, ìIíve enjoyed more conversations with women during these two days than I had in four years.î Me, too.)
You helped me recognize that Yale gave us enormous freedom to misbehave.
You danced.
You said, ìI love you.î And ìI miss you.î You said it in hugs. You said it in simple words.
You suggested that I become a stand-up comedian. Or a rabbi. Or both.
You showed enormous hospitality. You fed me. I was never hungry.
Most of all, you came to the Reunion. You decided to come long ago, or you decided to come at the last moment.
You gave me your best insight and advice. And you asked for mine.
You recommended books and movies that are dear to you.
You encouraged me as an intellectual by strengthening my brain, my emotions and the connections between them. My body belongs to Columbus. Because of you, my intellect belongs to Yale.
You confirmed what I had hoped:
ï Though we are out of touch, we have a relationship.
ï Though we are geographically dispersed, we are bound to this campus in a way that tingles our spines.
ï Though I have trouble remembering your name, I love you. (Can that be? It is.)

You taught me that Reunion is more than a moment; itís the reason. Being with you again ó our re-union ó is why I went to Yale.

Thank you for coming. Iím really glad you came. You are the most remarkable, thrilling, intimidating, inspiring group of people Iíve ever known.

May the next five years match your growing skills with challenges. May we be together in even greater numbers in 2012.

Thank you.