Random Bits of Me
by Pasadena Adjacent
We arrived with high school vanities quickly quenched by the humanities
I have a confession to make, I suffer from Ivy Envy. I associate my own advanced degrees with freeway off- ramps and post WWII state institutions beaming with their Soviet stylistic ambitions. Add to that, my embarrassment at being left in the dark when fellow bloggers lapse into French. Because of my envy, I’m prone to cross town flights of fancy. My destination always the grounds of the Claremont Colleges. My visit follows a predictable trajectory. I may visit the Orozco mural in the school cafeteria, the Williamson Gallery or the student initiated garden on the edge of the property. What I never fail to visit is the Scripps College for Women. What I didn’t realize is that while I was obsessing over the class of 44′s mural, David Foster Wallace, within close proximity, was following through with his own version of “Strange Fruit”.
A different blue boy post forthcoming.
……….
Did you know that some (one) of those French-spouting bloggers suffers from envy of your artistic talent? Maybe envy isn’t the word. But perhaps she (er, my friend) lacks that outre erudition, and is often left behind in conversations about it. So I–er, she–gets you, in a roundabout way.
You guys are talking about moi, nest-ce pas?
Regardless of where you got your sheepskin, you one interesting and talented gal.
And don’t talk to me about “embarrassing” schools. I get the prize for most embarrassing Alma Mater.
The girls from the class of 44 are a mordant bunch. I guess it makes sence since they were in school during the war years. Did I mention that you learn to use words like “mordant” in a sentence when you attend Ivy league schools?
I wanna know how embarrassing is Susan C’s alma mater?
You can’t just go around and say things like that. Leave me hanging…
The Claremont Colleges are so much fun to explore. Many hidden treasures there. I don’t blame you for your flight of fancy.
The tree mural is a little weird up close, though. (I’ll be back- I have to look up “mordant.”)
I saw this earlier in the day — & couldn’t quite believe it, had to come back. Maybe for ’44 it makes sense, maybe. I’ll have to check out the Claremont group – went there once in ’74? on the way to Palm Dessert to practice driving for the test with my dad. (that photo on the table is of Dad & my 1-year-old self – I love that photo). Maybe time to go back, you think?
I wonder if SC would count as fwy-off ramp U? How about Pepperdine Biz Sch – conveniently close to every major airport with 3 locations along the 405 (oh, wait – that’s their marketing strategy). But I know all about Ivy Envy – although it fades with years.
PS how wonderful of Ramona to help grieving widows. Wish my dad’s widow would try something like that.
Talks: Do schools kill creativity?
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
I am in love with Sir Ken Robinson. I’ve downloaded the podcast.
This line: “If a man speaks his mind and there is no woman in the room to hear it, is he still wrong?” buahahaaha
thanks, patrizzi, for the laugh. Now I have to look up your reference. I think I just heard a tree fall. I went to a school and I know where France is. All this time I thought mordant meant more dants.
I love the way you write. I can’t decide which side of your brain is the most creative.