45 years ago today .. a short story

[DFW]

11. Congratulations on achieving both longevity and simplicity

My wife and I are slightly ahead in longevity, but woefully behind in simplicity. Since we had been together for eight years before the official marriage, and we had a double wedding involving three nationalities and languages, simplicity eluded us. The wedding might as well have been the General Assembly of the United Nations, minus the (badly needed) interpreters.

The grandchildren are all bilingual in German and English, even though two live in New York and two live in Königstein/Taunus. The age of bubbling has passed, I fear. My wife retired from social work, as saving the world is a thankless and strenuous profession. At 73, I just celebrated 50 years at my job with no retirement in sight. I think the stress of being in a different country every day is easier to take than the stress of having nothing to do at all. Obviously, some see it the opposite way.

Pete Seeger once said (referring to music, but it holds true for other things): “Any damn fool can get complicated,” but it takes genius to achieve simplicity. Fools that my wife and I are, we managed the complicated part just fine. It’s the simplicity where we envy your genius. We haven’t figured that part out yet.

Well done!