I recently received my updated Cornell Law School official headshot. So I dug back into the archives, and found the two prior photos.
For some unkown reason, I thought it would be good to put them in a timeline.
Yikes.
It’s been 15 years since I joined Cornell. Yesterday my contract was renewed for another 5 years as a “consent” item at a faculty meeting. That will make 20 years by the time it’s over. I’ll be 69-years-old at that point. Assuming I stay until then, I’m still not taking another official photo. Enough is enough.
It’s been a long time coming. But mentally and emotionally I’m still 17, it’s 1977.
What I most remember was the freedom of movement. “Be home for dinner” was about all the parental monitoring we had. We hitchhiked, hung out at Jones Beach and the Roslyn Duck Pond, and once we got wheels, pretty much roamed around unencumbered.We didn’t have personal computers (those were just a few years away) though some of my classmates were early tinkerers who went on to great success in computer science. We also didn’t have cell phones — those were more than a few years away, so we weren’t constantly monitored. Thankfully, we also didn’t have social media. Whatever normal cliquish and catty behavior took place wasn’t amplified as it is now.That’s not to say we didn’t have the usual growing pains, including in high school. But all in all it was a great time and place.
I’m getting philosophical folks, self-reflective. Stop me right here, please.
I’m very satified to say I haven’t wasted much on the way. One wife, three kids, five grandchildren, with a sixth on the way. The grandchildren, at least, think I’m amazing.
There’s not much more one could ask for.
(In memory of David Crosby)
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