Well, after a lifetime of living by my wits, my education and on my memory, I have given myself up full-time to the profession of forgetting and retirement. I have put an end to professional and emotional attachments, most of which have long outlived their purpose and usefulness. I think I have established myself as a mild eccentric, sometimes discursive, a bit withdrawn, but possessing a few admirable traits, such as muttering to myself as I amble along historic pavement stones in far away places that are old enough to read my footsteps. I have become a redwood of my own generation, stout, tall, able bodied and with a half baked tolerance that comes from no longer caring that much.
Pensive, it will be interesting to see if the next jumble of years changes my perspective at all. With that, a thought from Goethe seems appropriate.
Über allen Gipfeln
Ist Ruh,
In allen Wipfeln
Spürest du
Kaum einen Hauch;
Die Vögelein schweigen im Walde
Warte nur, balde
Ruhest du auch.