Aldrich Art & Life's Little Things

The other day, I remember walking along the halls of Aldrich and coming across this piece of art I found quirky and yet haunting. I shan't quote it just yet because I want to get it exactly as the artist said of the piece. Tomorrow, I will go in search of it. And I will quote all of it. It reminded me of life's little things. A reminder to not be buried in the hurry burry of everything, and to marvel at the strange fates at work  that brought me to Harvard, to Aldrich, to that hallway, standing at that very art piece on the cusp of the beautiful moment that will be so full of comprehension and beautiful simplicity.  

 

If I Could Tell You, Auden

.... If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know. ...

I always always always end up connecting with Auden's magical, lyrical haunting poetry. No matter what I read or don't. 

W.

Shock of the week - to find out that of all the famous people in the world, George W. Bush was from my section. 

Just one question. Why?

PS: Mitt Romney was too.

First Day of Serious Classes

Today has been the first day of serious classes. And you all may or may not ask, "How has it been, H?" and other variations questions. Well it depends -

On Cases & Classes - 

I like it a lot. I think, I am going to actually like my 'fluffy' classes quite a bit- LEAD (Leadership) and Maketing. We also looked at a case of Lapdesk, a for profit social enterprise in South Africa. I haven't been as concise and articulate as I wished to be during class. But, I will get there. I better as 50% of my grade is dependent on the quality of my comments. 

On Diversity of Classmates -

The sheer number of things my classmates have achieved in their 'personal' time was plain outstanding, their careers, I felt needed some room for diversity. Most had followed the consulting and private equity route, if not the IB and private equity route. So much so that I quickly realised that I was the exotic diversity candidate at Harvard, the 'poet'! Where are the promised chefs, the Olympic triathletes? Sure I have a section-mate who wrote Broadway musicals and another who was a surgeon. But we make a small motely band of "poets". 

On Everything Else -

Consulting is huge here. The first day, BCG clogged my mailbox with awesome umbrellas and a personalised note from the CEO. Not to be outdone, the second day, Bain & Company sent me(and all other RCs) super cool water bottles and email Ids of real people, urging me to contact them. That's all very flattering I am sure.  But it makes my search to tread the path lesser traveled rather challenging.  The array of social, club activities is staggering. The skys the limit. Being the old bore, I have opted out of all the bar-disco-club nights. But I fancy checking out plays in the Sanders Theater, making full use of the collection at Lemont and the archives at Widener across the river. I plan to go to university stand-up comedy and dance and plan to row or dance. If it's all free, that is, as I happen to be in a financial mess. 

It's only been 5 days, but I feel distant from my old life.