<p>Dallas, what a wonderful response. I am glad I wrote on this blog (I am barely computer literate). An only child, of parents who had to come here to make ends meet, of parents from a former colony who are insecure enough and name dropping enough to want an Ivy for him (I did urge U of Chicago so he could go to a ghetto and study Plato and St. John's and Olin Engineering) and living in an affluent community unfortunately my S has not experimented beyond a comfort zone. Till now, I was preoccupied with getting him in, to use that cliche.</p>
<p>As you so sagaciously point out, my friend's son may ultimate win life's sweepstakes. He has seen more of India than I have (and I grew up there), he has meditated in ashrams, is going to study comparative religion at grad school. This guy has a grand interior life and I guess I must be open to the fact that my son can have this only if he tries and fails and tries again, just like falling in love. I wish he had applied early to Stanford and been admitted, he wouldn't have me hovering around him. The work I have to do is on myself. Thanks for the tip about auditing courses, P/F etc I didn't know of these options. Today, I am going to take a vow of not discussing his studies with him. But please permit me to seek wisdom in these columns.</p>
<p>I am so grateful this Sunday morning for your words. These are the words I use for my patients, doctor, heal thyself and all that, eh.</p>