Credit: http://tvbythenumbers.com/
Two weekends ago, I saw the series finale of Lost. This past weekend, I attended my first Princeton Reunions as an alumnus. After reflecting on both I can’t help but notice that these two events share loads in common, striking a chord in the very social-spiritual fabric of the human condition.
Before I begin with Lost, I must confess the fact that I did not faithfully follow the show for the past six years, but I was caught up to speed after (1) my girlfriend–a devout Lost-phile–explained to me all the show’s major events, and (2) I saw the recap show that preceded the finale. With this knowledge, I felt somewhat equipped to process the finale. Thankfully, I was able to follow and appreciate it. And although there are many critics/haters for whom the finale was disappointing, I thought that the focus of it was just right: the meaning-rich experiences that the castaways shared, and the irrevocable bonds they forged. In this regard, Princeton Reunions is no different. The sole reason that compels over 20,000 alumni to return to the Orange Bubble is that something wonderfully meaningful happened here, either in recent memory or a distant but sweet past.
In the Lost finale, everything hinges on the characters’ transition from a purgatory-like state of being (formerly thought to be an alternate timeline of events, or a “flash-sideways”), to the afterlife. This transition will not and cannot happen until each character reaches an epiphany of memory. That is, a character is not existentially prepared to “pass on” until he or she remembers his or her experiences on the island.
Princeton Reunions is similar in this way too, in that it makes no sense for any alumnus/a without reminiscing about the experiences–good, bad, and everything in between–that transpired within the beloved Orange Bubble.
Credit: Princeton weekly bulletin 1/10/05
For the Lost survivors and for Princeton alumni, the memories hold weight because they come from a point in life marked by deep transformation. The survivors, each with his or her troubled past, find hope and redemption on the island, as their lives are infused with purpose that was lacking before. Princeton alumni had a transformation too: they entered Princeton fresh and frenetic from high school and left FitzRandolph Gate with a top-notch education and relationships that would last a lifetime.
That’s all well and good, but what about the mysteries of Lost and Princeton that are left un-addressed, unsolved? In Lost, many of the mysteries surround the quirky physics of the island, as well as its origin. At Princeton, the mysteries are more banal but no less irksome: grade deflation, the politics of bicker, etc. Some people, maybe those who are too detail-oriented or get hung up over the “small stuff,” spend too much time trying to pick apart mysteries, to no avail.
If the finale of Lost and Princeton Reunions can teach us anything, it’s that the mysteries are not what matter in the end. It’s about the blessing of relationship and connection with others. It’s about the threads of meaning and experience that, when weaved together, create a life tapestry that’s worth remembering and retaining–especially the day when we pass on and reflect on how we lived here, on this floating blue-green island.
I agree with your conclusion (since I’m also still a bit LOST about the finale) — Brilliant entry, Rich! Glad you had a good time reconnecting at Reunions.
In my view, you get out of Princeton just as much as you put in. But yes, the shared suffering experienced there can often form strong bonds!