by Eli
Camping with Dan
6:55 pm in Uncategorized by Eli
Dear Dan,
These past days, when I’ve found myself sinking deep into the dark wells of despair, I’ve tried to pull myself back into the sunshine by recollecting a few of the grand adventures we shared together. One trip that I remember was when Julia and Tai and Rachel and I dragged you out in the middle of winter to camp out on the coast in Pt. Arena. Well, we didn’t really have to drag you out. It’s more like we tried convincing you to stay in Palo Alto and work on your grad school applications. You must have foreseen with that irrefutable logic of yours that you’d be offered an improbably plush sweetheart deal from Illinois without lifting a finger, so you once again gently laid caution aside and reached again for grand adventure.
Dan, Rachel, Eli, Tai, and Julia
As I remember, it rained buckets for all three days of that trip. I think the warmest thing you brought was a pair of mittens or arm bands or “beard hat” that you had knit from scratch. Despite the dumping rain you never complained once. You were never the sort to complain. You seemed to relish the challenge presented you by the weather, and charge at it full on. From the moment we began our futile search for the mythical hotsprings, you were always out in front, scouting the trail, dipping down side paths and reporting back.
Dan holding forth to Tai on mathematical theorems in his signature theatrical manner.
Back at camp you delighted in daring us, one by one or all at once, to follow your mathematical paradoxes and theorems from base principles all the way up to galactic unity. Before that trip, I hadn’t quite appreciated what a genius you were. Hearing you talk so fluently in that exotic language of mathematics was mesmerizing.
Dantix.
You see, I’m smiling again. I’m watching your brain orbit poor Tai’s at a speed of approximately 3.1415926 revolutions per nanosecond. He’s desperately trying to keep up with you, but you’re just too damned fast. You’re at peace, now. I’m happy for you, but it still hurts. Time to think of another adventure!
