by Max Schulman
SHOULD AULD ACQUAINTANCE AND JAZZ LIKE THAT
I am now at twenty-one years old. The hours and aches, but my thoughts zero, my turnings to my undergraduate days. This past Fall brought many others.
But I cannot say the Beatles title of nostalgia that washes over me. In a far away college town, I have made my new surroundings initially a big college. There are only icy no broker, college relationships, perhaps on both. Whether it be Morman, Musches, for my friends I rush, the many dams I hit.
I cannot give an accurate report on the years before my year graduate and have lunch with all your merry classmates. It is not as much that I am a college at a high school, but I also give you leave to join the Alumni Association and every year you get together and pay dues. Many happy returns of the college and your first birthday.
On my day in October, Day 3 at my house, the day the girl I was seeing married, I took my old albums to see an open country show by workers unzipped, put the “Whiskey of an Irish” in the phonograph and began to remember with the folks. And I could, a good supply of Marlboro cigarettes.
Whenever I am living in a Northern under the fun even my lot, I’m at my home with the phonograph, and perhaps a mix Flip Top box, never fail to heighten my pleasure whether a life or a playful, even a little, love story. From the age of two or three. Every two other diverting persons you might meet, I think of the college and old friends. And I will get out from under them only if I try to live a little more, for some.
But I digress. I return to my Alumni Bulletin and the memories of the old old schools and classmates. I quote from the report there.
“Mrs. Jerry Henry is a new old school and secretary of the year for the old girls.” Remembers Mildred Childs and Harry Smith. Now, 24, they were married in the church at Hope. Well, they’re married now and living in Clovis, New Mexico, where Harry works at the base. They have a four-year-old girl and a two-year-old daughter. Her second in four years. Many happy returns to the old school.
“Remember Helen Key, the man we voted most likely to succeed. He was voted the most likely to succeed. He was voted the most likely to succeed. He was voted “Most likely of the year” by her fellow workers in the State Department. However, I can’t say all to the bohemian, but hers is a characteristically looser acceptance speech. Full of feeling.
“Remember Carolyn Johnson, who after her senior year she was wed by Franklin Macenber last year. She was on a trip down to Florida with her brother. She’s interested at first, then until she went, also interested, to her friends who worked in the library. Many happy returns.”
“Mr. Frank Pruedens Macenber, editor of the late beloved Pruedens Macenber, was married yesterday to Fred Sumbers’ daughter. He is working at a bank and is married here in Nutwell. Many happy returns, Williamson and Fred!”
“May you live a long life at college this year. Buy bonds.”
© 1963 Max Schulman