Distinguished Alums

Ever heard this one? A Dean of a Business School, a 30 YO FEMALE COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO FIGHTS FOR FREE LUNCH AND EQUALITY AND DIGNITY FOR ALL STUDENTS AND WHO ALSO LOOKS GREAT IN BLUE AND KNOWS JUST WHERE TO PUT HER HANDS IN PICTURES, and a playwright who got her hair straightened so she wouldn’t chew on it while they called her name,  stand in front of a book case in a beautiful alumni building, and — they just stand there, feeling distinguished, not quite knowing where to look or who to thank, feeling so old but so young, wondering when they can eat, where they can pee, who they should thank, doing the mental math of how did I get there, and when did I become Not Nineteen, and  what did I do to deserve this honor and I’ve just been doing my things, and suddenly it’s years later, and look what I’ve built and how will I express my gratitude in words?, especially the playwright, who is meant to be good with words, but who can only think, what do distinguished people do with their Hands, in Pictures? 

 

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