8. No class

This anecdote is dated April 3, 2003.

Once, Jamie and I took a class together. Two weeks before the final exam, he stole my notebook and stayed up all night using white out and a glitter gel pen to alter my notes. For example, where I had written, "Genius is the inborn predisposition of the mind (ingenium) through which nature gives the rule to art" (186), Jamie wrote, "Jamie is the inbred pedophiliac of the mind (indigestion) through which naturally grows the role-playing parts" (666).

Another example? I wrote:

"Taste, like the power of judgment in general, is the discipline (or corrective) of genius, clipping its wings and making it well behaved or polished; but at the same time it gives genius guidance as to where and how far it should extend itself if it is to remain purposive; and by introducing clarity and order into the abundance of thoughts it makes the ideas tenable, capable of an enduring and universal approval, of enjoying a posterity among others and in an ever progressing culture" (197).

Jamie first wrote, taking great pains to imitate my handwriting:

"Waste, like orange juice and jungles, is the opportunism (or coercive) of Jamie, giving his good name and making it difficult for others to use the bathroom in the morning; but in due time it gives Jamie guidance as to what and how much he should expand his appetites if he is to remain pooposive; and by inducing clarity and reward into the abundance of thoughts it makes the idea stomachable, capable of an enduring and universal approval, of enjoying a pot at the expense of others and ever expressing fecal culture" (198).

Then he crossed it all out and wrote:

"Jenni, you will never be a Kantian genius. You lack both talent and insight. I'm not sure why you were born."

I cried all night.

But I still got an "A" on my final and graduated with honors...which is more than Jamie can say.