Page 240 - WhyAsInY

Why (as in yaverbaum)
doubt that I was even thinking about the reasons for the decision or about what might come next. My focus was entirely procedural. Whom do I tell? What are the formalities? What do I say to my parents? When do I pack? I do know, however, that in every conversation that I had, I stressed that I absolutely intended to return and complete my education at Amherst.
I don’t recall any part of my telephone call with my parents. I am sure, however, that they were upset and that they said that they would drive up to see me. I am also sure that at some point, once she realized that I was in fact going to leave, my mother decided that I was leaving because I had contracted a severe case of mononucleosis, at the time a common, almost fashionable affliction. At least, that’s the way that I remember it. “Mono” was a pretty popular disease then, and I guess that it would be easier to say mono when she would have to give her friends a reason for my departure than, say, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, which, you will admit, was and is a mouthful. I guess that it was unfash- ionable to say merely that I had quit or, worse yet, that I had become quite depressed and couldn’t handle it anymore. To my father’s credit, I recall no question or comment from him concerning rules applicable to tuition refunds.
I learned that I would have to meet with the Dean of Students to tell him of my decision, and the meeting was called for 1:00 p.m. on Fri- day, six days after I had checked into the infirmary. All I recall about the conversation is that the Dean did not make an effort to convince me to stay; he did say that, while it was likely that I would be able to return in the following September, no assurance could be given; I would have to write a letter—in effect, reapplying.
When I left the Dean’s office, I became aware that a number of the secretaries seemed to be very upset; one was weeping. It was close to 2:00—it was Friday, November 22, 1963.
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