A Visit To Harvard

September 29, 2006

I have known my friend Matthew for nearly 30 years. He and his wife, Lynnzee were part of our intimate circle of friends ever since our children were babies. Matthew was one of Maryka’s teachers and Lynnzee and I traded child care. Their daughter Olivia is one of Maryka’s closest childhood friends.

 

When Maryka was in high school she had gone beyond what our small rural community had to offer. Matthew suggested that she go to a private boarding school and so it was because of Matthew that her whole life took a very different course than it would have if she had stayed with us and gone to the local public school. She went to Buxton School, a small but well respected school in Williamstown,
Massachusetts, and because of that she had offers from several colleges and universities. She went to Mt. Holyoke College with a full scholarship and it was the best thing that could have happened to her.

Matthew went away to Brazil in 1998 and we all thought he would stay there forever. I was so surprised when he called me in January (2005) to announce that he was back in the States and had settled in Portland, Oregon. Since then I have seen him when he comes to Boston or when I go to Portland. It’s been great to have him back. He is one of my oldest friends. When I saw him it was as if those years he was away never happened. We all missed him and he left a big empty hole in our social circle.

Matthew is in Boston for a couple of days on a business trip and he called me to arrange a time when we could get together. Usually when I see him we have lunch or dinner and talk. This time, I said, “Let’s do something fun,” and he asked, “You mean, go to a movie or something?” I said yes, and suggested I take the T into Harvard Square instead of driving in and trying to find his brother’s house somewhere in the Back Bay, which would be a big challenge for me.

Right away he guessed what I wanted and graciously offered, “Do you want to see Harvard?” I wonder how he knew. Maybe a lot of people have asked him for a tour of Harvard. One of the things I really wanted to do while I was in Massachusetts was to visit a few of the famous colleges and universities in the area. It would be a real treat to have a tour from someone who had gone to school there. I gladly said yes.

I waited for him at the T stop in Harvard Square and when he arrived he was very energetic and upbeat, with a lot to talk about, as always. We found an Indian restaurant and did some catching up over lunch. Being in Matthew’s company is something like an intellectual roller coaster ride. His mind moves quickly from one complex set of ideas to the next, and he interconnects everything so precisely that it’s a challenge to keep up with him. I mostly want to simply listen, but his ideas are so stimulating that I can’t help joining in. I never know where a conversation with him is going to go, which is why it is so much fun. Generally after I have shared a meal with him I have no recollection of having eaten, except to remember that I enjoyed it very much. I think he is one of the few true academics I have had the pleasure to know.

 

We walked over to the Harvard campus and spent the afternoon looking at all the places he frequented during his college years. He also shared some interesting facts about the school. We found a bench and sat for a long time, remembering people we both knew and sharing our experiences as long time members of the same spiritual community.

Suddenly the clouds hid the sun again and as the sky opened up he produced an umbrella, which we shared companionably as he walked me back to the T stop. He hugged me and then kissed me on both cheeks, as they do in Brazil, and said next time we see each other we will both be on the other side of the country. Then I was walking down the ramp to the train platform and he disappeared around a corner. It’s so good to have him back.

You can look up Matthew at www.spenceandco.com. I highly recommend his seminar on business writing, which is designed to improve the quality of communications in business, from simple interoffice correspondence and email to formal business letters and proposals. As you know, people who are good in business aren’t necessarily effective writers. Spence and Company was created 50 years ago by Matthew’s father and his work is carried on by his sons.