And I thought I was bad about the mail that comes to my house. I\u2019m pretty good about keeping up with mail at work, but when I get home at the end of a day, I grab the pile out of my mailbox and toss it in a corner, where it molds nicely for 30 to 60 days. Then, when I think it\u2019s nice and ripe I will turn on a Braves game and spend a couple of hours going through it. I\u2019ve missed out on some parties and been late on a few bills, but I generally get by okay.<\/p>\n
This month, I\u2019m going to my \u00ac\u2013gulp \u2013 20th college reunion at the University of Virginia. My alumni association has been sending me magazines, postcards, magnets, e-mails, etc., for about eight months now. That aggressive of a campaign is enough to eventually get my attention. So I called some college buddies, each of whom is, unlike me, an upstanding, successful, and well-organized lawyer, doctor, architect or investment banker.<\/p>\n
Their reaction? \u201cWhat reunion?\u201d They never look at their home mail. In fact, a couple of them were not happy with me for pushing them to the brink of a most unwelcome thought: that we are 20 years out of college. Eeek! <\/p>\n
So even though we may be sleeping on the sofa of some fraternity house (just like old times), I\u2019ve excited most of them into going back for another weekend.<\/p>\n
All of this reminded me of an idea I\u2019ve been nurturing for the past few years. It\u2019s based on the fantasy baseball camp idea \u2013 you know, those guys in their 40s or 50s who pay thousands of dollars to put on a baseball uniform and go out and swing the bat with real Braves players in Florida for a weekend. I think colleges could have a huge fundraising fad on their hands if they began \u2013 you got it, fantasy college weekends.<\/p>\n
We\u2019d all arrive on Friday night, check into the dorms, meet our roommates, register to take a few classes on Saturday and Sunday, pull on the old jeans, grab a quick bite at a burger joint, run over to fraternity and sorority row and bounce from party to party until 3 or 4 am. Bands, beer, dancing, (and lots of coffee in concession to our age). All the usual chit-chat: Where are you from, what dorm are you staying in, do you have a date (spouse), what\u2019s your major (career)? We could make out with strangers in the corners and then all stumble down to the all-night diner and eat bacon-cheeseburgers and double orders of fries and then find our way to the dorms (no driving!) and sleep in late.<\/p>\n
We\u2019d skip the 8 a.m. class, wander into the 11 a.m. lecture, go to brunch, head to the football game, go check in at the dorms, call home for more money, go out and start all over again.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been thinking about this idea for a couple of years. Who knows? Maybe I should patent the idea and make money. I was promoting the idea a year ago to a buddy of mine who\u2019s married. He got all excited and slyly urged me to ensure its fantasy-like quality and guarantee that no one could take their spouses. I was mulling that one over when his wife walked up and I told her of the camp idea. She loved it. Her first reaction was to urge me to guarantee that no one could take their spouses. Suddenly, her husband looked a little uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn second thought,\u201d he said before wandering off, \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s a good idea at all.\u201d
\nOh well. Maybe I\u2019ll just mail them an invitation and see who opens it first.<\/p>\n\n\n