and I cry if I want to .... Not that I feel suddenly sad and depressed, but one can also cry out of joy, or when emotions are coming up to strong. And this is a period of very strong emotions for me. It's a fact , last Friday August 22nd around 16h00 I have finished my 40th year on this planet. Officially my life is spanning over 4 decades now , so time to celebrate with friends.
I love bringing people together in a relaxed atmosphere, letting them enjoy the last week-end of summer. what I expected to be an easy ride turned out to be a little rollercoaster for me. I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people that showed up and the warmth I felt from people’s wishes and attention.
From my son and daughter coming to sit on my lap and wrapping their arms around me whilst I was being prosaic about how big and brave the are becoming to friends and making me wish I just had more hours in a day and days in a week to see them grow ; over a gentle pad on the back from my father in which lay a feeling of pride that I have become who I am and a feeling of forgotten despair of a unmanageable rebel to the hug of my mother who whispered in my ears: you look happy with the undertone of I love you.
Or the way my brother and 3 sisters looked at me amongst the busy group of people forgiven me that I do not have enough time for them again but giving me the nod of: good to see you happy.
Or the way Emmanuel my old school buddy was bringing back the memory of old days as if it was only yesterday we were there dancing in front of the huge from ceiling to floor windows on the 5th floor in the gym showers at school, give the ladies of the elderly home across the street an glimpse of the Chippendales to come.
Or the way people looked back at the time they worked or studied together and put it into the perspective of today. Or the way Piet and I already made plans for a next dinner of which we know it will be just fine .... and forget to mention my new glasses, the memory of holidays with friends or even the phone calls and sms'es I received ... (Mats I am coming over before the end of the year) ....
Or the way we could slowly and in the most wonderful company could close down the party .... It just makes you a little bit wee.
And now all is quiet again, tomorrow is another day . Or maybe not, because I’m officially in a new age group.
I'm in the age group now that can try to fit again in the clothes his father was wearing when he was born because they are being considered as style icons.
I'm at an age that people have tendency to enlarge their rear view mirror and shield more and more the view that lies ahead of them.
I'm at the age that a scale becomes like a distant friend you never visit because you do not want to talk about the old times.
I'm at the age that it is just lovely to behave like Staler and Waldorf with your even older friend on the terrace of our favorite bar.
I'm at the age that I still try to fit in fashionable clothes and glasses , but the love handles are giving me away.
I’m at the age I am, nothing more nothing less; but above all grateful for all the moments I lived with all of you and full of joy for what we are today, looking forward to tomorrow because I know you will all be there ...
Happy travels
Toon
