The ties that bind, without any ties

Today was an interesting day. Two of my classmates from my Northwestern Ph.D. days, Jim and Mike, came to my house around 11:30. It has been thirty plus years since we we had cubicles in the sub-basement of the Tech building- perhaps it was the fact that there were no windows that darkened our outlook on life. After thirty years, we have aged, and so has the relationship. Mike has become a master gardener, and as is his wont, has acquired a vast range of knowledge about plants and animals. Mike has always been very compassionate, and it has been very interesting to see his growth. Jim and I started at NU at the same time, and over the years he has become family to me. I took up runnig because of Jim. My mom was very happy to see Jim, and gave him a warm hug.
Over the course of my twenty seven year career, I have met many people, and worked with hundreds of people, but the NU classmates were the brightest of the bunch- my best conversations are with them!
I wear a tie when I am teaching, but then I don't think either Jim or Mike wears one.