Johnsons Party

David Johnson throws an annual summer party for the Bell Labs diaspora from prior to '84 and holds together its continuing legacy as a Hydra (the AT&T Labs incarnation has its alumni here). The invite now goes to dozens of organizations, and those in the NJ neighborhood manage to make it to the party. I did, this year, after a hiatus, and was charmed as usual. No photos, just people. Burgers and beers, backyard games. Lot more of interns than I remembered from the past, and the youngsters from a decade ago when I first became a part of this story were there now with their children. Those of the diaspora elsewhere who couldn't make it should know the party might feel familiar, but still it is a subtly varying affirmation to be experienced in person. Here is to the summer!