I just feel… something about this guy. He’s like, 72, and he’s a professor and he always tries to talk to the younger faculty and he tries to ask about their research and he brings up his own stuff but they just keep talking about each other’s work and they’re all like 30 and 40 and they don’t even look at him and it’s just so awkward to watch because he’s trying so hard and you can see him like, adjusting his glasses and clearing his throat and he’s got these really nice tweed jackets but they just keep going on and on about like, some new paper or something. And I guess it’s not really my problem, but it’s just so OBVIOUS that he wants to be part of the conversation and he probably has a lot to say because he’s been doing this forever and I feel bad for him because no one really wants to listen and I guess I kind of understand it because they’re all in their prime and they have all this new stuff happening but he’s still there and he’s trying to connect and it just doesn’t work and he ends up just kind of smiling and nodding and then he drifts away and I see him go back to his office and the door clicks shut. And it’s not sad, really, it’s just… a fact. And I see it and I kind of get it and I wonder if that’s how it works with my parents and their friends when they try to talk about something new but everyone’s just settled into their routines and they just want to talk about the lawn or what the neighbors are doing with their new car and it’s always the same and no one really reaches out past that and it makes me think about how things change and how people just kind of… get left behind sometimes, even if they’re still trying and still there.