It seems again like this year has passed so quickly. We will soon have a 9 in our date and I’m hardly used to the nineties being gone. The decade is almost over and I don’t even know what to call it. We had the seventies, later came the eighties and the nineties. What are we in now, the zeros? Are we heading toward the teens? Whatever.
One thing I do know is that since working at home for one-third of the week, the weekdays go by very quickly. Now for instance. It’s Tuesday evening and I could swear it was just the weekend. I do, though, feel like my days are intense, full of change and good times. At least I do my best. I still enjoy soccer and taking a long walk through the forest (not at the same time, though). I have fun fooling around with Theresa, teasing Joshua and watching Julian become a man. Just today I was debated with Julian about the validity of “conspiracy theories”. I am happy that we find the time and space to discuss such issues.
Joshua’s never-ending curiosity is fun to observe. Theresa continues to astound us with her acute awareness of things going on around her and her sharp memory.
When the youngsters are out and about, Susa and I are enjoying times together without kids around. This happens more lately. Julian and Joshua are often out with their friends and Theresa also sometimes spends an afternoon at a friend’s. It’s a strange feeling when we are home alone. The flat is quiet and we can talk without constantly being interrupted. In a way I feel a bit strange that I’m getting older, something hard to deny when I watch my kids sprout up and getting more and more independent. On the other hand, it’s pretty cool to realize that after 18 years it’s the first time that I don’t have a child under 7 years to take care of. Rather emancipating. Perhaps it’s a bit like the changing of the guards, or like a generational change. My oldest is becoming an adult. I’m becoming the father of an adult. If Julian is a generation below me and he’s an adult what does that make me? I think I’ll push off thinking about that for another ten years or so.
In a way I still feel like a kid. I was always the baby in the family. At least that’s what I’ve been told (by certain, as yet unnamed, siblings). For quite a while now I’ve been a father but in a way don’t even feel like I fit into that role. I mean, my father was a father and I’m not like him. Am I? He was so much older and, ya know, father-like. I couldn’t be that way. Could I? Now Julian is 18, but I’m only just getting used to being a father. Strange.
Talking about strange, uh, I mean change, what do you all think of our new pres? Have you read either of his books? I just read his first one and was pretty darn impressed and moved. Perhaps being a good author isn’t in and of itself a qualification for the highest office in the land, but I would say it definitely boosts up one’s credentials. After reading his book he seems to me to be reflective, thoughtful, caring, intelligent and determined. I do have a lot of hope that Obama’s presidency is going to be a sort of catalyst for positive, progressive change in the US. Perhaps like a kick in the butt of a sleeping cow.
It was great fun having Dave and Barb here for a visit. They were great sports about looking around town via bicycle and bus. Looks like Dave truly enjoyed testing my recumbant bike. Within just the few days they were here we got to do quite a bit of sightseeing - castles, cathedrals, monasteries and old towns. It was cool that a friend of ours took us on a gondola boat ride and at the same time told us about the very old history of the university of Tübingen. I really got to show off “my” town because when they were here the autumn colors were fantastic with leaves glaring in shades of red, orange and yellow.
