I read a Tau journal today. She mentioned a legendary house alum. Then, the next place I went happened to be a response to her entry. I am now strongly tempted to respond to his response, but I really think I'm better off ignoring the whole silliness. LOWER THE CONE OF SILENCE!!! Aaah. It's not even happening. Bliss bliss bliss bliss bliss...

***

I have been thinking a lot about Legendary House Alums, though. This is as good a time as any to segue into that topic, I guess.

I remember someone at the House saying recently, "I hate it when they say 'this isn't my house anymore'."

I think she was actually referring to current actives, or recent alums saying that, and that's an entirely different discussion. But from where I'm coming from, it really isn't "my" Tau anymore. In some ways it's worse, but in some ways it's better. But no matter how you try, you just can't be the people I loved.

(I'm gonna lapse into Insufferably Wise Elder Tau for a minute here. Please bear with me.)

Right now, you kids are shaping yourselves. You are becoming adults. You're shedding off a lot of things you used to be, and trying on some new ones.

That's what college is. But the really clever bit is, you're not doing it alone. You're doing it surrounded by a bunch of people your own age who are also going through the same process. You're going to remember these people forever, because you were all there for each other while this major personal upheaval was going on. It's like one big bonding experience thingy. Let me know if I get too technical here.

The point is, I define "my" Tau as the people who I lived with, who were right there, going through it with me. You guys can't ever be those people. The timing is all wrong.

That's what I mean, when I say it. I'm being literal. I do understand, though, where the other people who say it are coming from.

The memories of college are especially sharp for the first few years in the real world. Alums come back, and instead of seeing the people they love, all they see are a bunch of strangers living in their rooms. I've been there. It's really disconcerting. They say things like, "This isn't Tau anymore!" but what you have to understand is, what they really mean is "Where are all of my old friends?"

I think what I'm trying to say here is it's not you guys. The Alums who say that are going through a very personal period of readjustment, and they're blaming you for not being someone else.

The really clever part is, I've been watching you. I'm spending a lot more time at the House than I have for a few years, and I see it now. You guys are Taus. You're just slightly different ones.

You drink less. You study more. Overall, you're probably a lot more emotionally stable. There are a lot less insurmountable schisms. You're a lot more tolerant of each other. I see a lot more love in the House.

Maybe having so many alums so actively involved in the House is a bad thing. You hear us telling stories, and you can't help feeling that you aren't fullfilling "The Tau Ideal." Lemme tell you, it would actually be kinda scary if you were. It wasn't all bonghits and roses, kids.

Instead, you're making your own Tau. And in a couple years, you're going to come back and get pissed off at all these freaks who are screwing it up.

***

Jeez. I've been writing for about three hours here. I'm done now. /soapbox.

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