I like the idea of cross generational conversations in a safe space, while one is younger. Something like what you had with Poesch.
I think it gives young people a certain assuredness around older people where they don't have to try to hard to gain ground (like in early work situations), if they have had such relationships growing up.
Totally agreed. I had a very cool relationship with an older doctoral student when I was in my early 20s in school for my BFA in Theatre. We had the best spiraling intellectual hashings-out at coffee shops (which is something I have long enjoyed best of all to occupy me). In hindsight, there may have been a *little* non-platonic frisson going on under the surface but overall it was such a stimulating friendship to have--he was delighted to talk to a younger person that was so well read and could keep up with his conversations, and I was happy to have someone with the years and schooling under his belt that I could actually nerd out with, at my level. We mainly nerded out about Shakespeare, and it was really good for both of our brains, I think.
I love the way you basically do a write-around about the actual tavern - this is really an essay about your family or the way we make family beyond bio-connections: “I’ve got to think the reason I’m still such good friends with so many of my high school and college friends is because of this social model.” Indeed! I’m thinking I might write about my own version of this at some point (thanks for the spark). 💫
Meanwhile, your mom! I want to know her. She sounds like a female version of Gandalf 🪄
I like the idea of cross generational conversations in a safe space, while one is younger. Something like what you had with Poesch.
I think it gives young people a certain assuredness around older people where they don't have to try to hard to gain ground (like in early work situations), if they have had such relationships growing up.
Totally agreed. I had a very cool relationship with an older doctoral student when I was in my early 20s in school for my BFA in Theatre. We had the best spiraling intellectual hashings-out at coffee shops (which is something I have long enjoyed best of all to occupy me). In hindsight, there may have been a *little* non-platonic frisson going on under the surface but overall it was such a stimulating friendship to have--he was delighted to talk to a younger person that was so well read and could keep up with his conversations, and I was happy to have someone with the years and schooling under his belt that I could actually nerd out with, at my level. We mainly nerded out about Shakespeare, and it was really good for both of our brains, I think.
I love the way you basically do a write-around about the actual tavern - this is really an essay about your family or the way we make family beyond bio-connections: “I’ve got to think the reason I’m still such good friends with so many of my high school and college friends is because of this social model.” Indeed! I’m thinking I might write about my own version of this at some point (thanks for the spark). 💫
Meanwhile, your mom! I want to know her. She sounds like a female version of Gandalf 🪄
That’s why call them ‘unhinged personal essays *disguised* as pub reviews.’ I don’t think I’ve done even one that’s just about the place.