The Reunion

Well, I survived the reunion gathering. Actually was pretty enjoyable. This was a different sort of reunion, it was people from my major from any and all years. My major as I have mentioned in previous post was Religion and Philosophy.

Several people asked me what my emphasis was. I said we didn't have an emphasis when I was here. However, I think I leaned toward taking more philosophy. I'm not sure, it may have been about even. I mentioned that I remembered that I had taken classes in existentialism, logic, and modern philosophy.

As it happens not that many people showed up. I was told that about 25 people were signed up. But it was mostly profs, the lady I spoke to when I called to RSVP, who was a department assistant, and a dean and his wife. There was a young man who is currently a student who came with a date, and I think two alumni. I couldn't hear what was being said at the other end of the table.

I was surprised to find out that I wasn't expected to pay for my own meal. I was quite willing to avail myself of that offer. Now, I feel slightly guilty. I ordered a Greek dish - gyro platter and got lots, enough to fill up a take away box after I ate. I really wanted to try a slice of the cake that I saw on display in a glass case on the way in. However I restrained myself. I have been craving cake lately.

I drank quite a few cups of coffee. I generally don't drink that much. I was worried I would stay awake all night what with all that caffeine and the stimulation of being around people, which I don't get that much of. I did have some trouble turning my thoughts off afterwards and going to sleep, but thankfully I wasn't awake particularly long. Not really much different than my usual tendency to insomnia.

I was asked what Berry was like when I was there, what did people do. I was rather hard pressed to answer. I did do stuff, but I just couldn't think of what to say. I mentioned these two bars that I remembered going to (that was mostly my freshman year). I thought later I could have mentioned about my observation that my freshman year the guys (many of them) were wearing long hair, but then they all (almost all) started wearing short. It was the end of the hippie era. Carter was beginning to run for President and there was this guy who I knew who talked about the election incessantly. It was my first time to vote, and I think I voted for Carter. I couldn't remember who he ran against.

I could have talked about the two guys I particularly remember from our dept. There was a guy who was also majoring in Journalism, (double major). He wrote for the Campus Carrier, the school newspaper, and he was fun to have in class. He always asked such interesting questions, I loved having him in my classes. He drove a Studebaker. And there was this other fellow in the dept. who always wore black (this was well before Goth hit the scene). He was interesting to be around because he was witty. Dark, but witty. He was I think the valedictorian for my class. I didn't ever actually have in my any of my classes. I do wonder what has become of those two. Where are they, what are they doing?

I was asked if I was reading anything philosophical (I forget exactly). I said that I have been into reading classical literature and that I am currently reading Les Miserables. And I read a book about the Reformation earlier in the year. I couldn't really think of much to say about either book. So that topic didn't go far.

The conversation turned toward politics and economics (they seem to go together) toward the end of the evening. One of the profs was asked what his take was on the VP debates. He said Biden did a better job. I had sort of watched it, I had it on, but I was drowsing off and missed a good bit of it. I rather thought Palin was more impressive, but I didn't say so. I said I was considering voting independent. Someone mentioned Ron Paul, and the same prof said that he had endorsed some nut job, he couldn't call the name, I said, Chuck Baldwin, and he said he couldn't name the party, I said, Constitution. He said, you're kind of scary, you can't answer normal questions and you know stuff like that. I just smiled. He said something about to vote write-in you have to be able to name the elector and the American public isn't that sophisticated. I don't know what he was talking about.

I tried to search it when I got home. I did find out that in Georgia, unless the candidate I vote for has filed an official notice, a write-in vote doesn't get counted. The election is almost here and I'm not sure who I really should vote for.