Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Der Alte

Way back when Konrad Adenauer was Chancellor of Germany, he was known by the German Volk – the people they named the Wagen after :-) -- as “Der Alte” (the Old Man).
I have come to feel that this would be an appropriate title for me.
For the truth is, my dear friends of this cyber world, Berowne is not young. He has been around the reservoir a couple of times. As my old buddy Macbeth used to say: "My way of life has fallen into the sere, the yellow leaf…" So I have to confess that the picture of the young guy brushing his teeth at the top of my blog doesn’t resemble me at all.
But it’s nothing to be sad about. You remember the line: “Grow old along with me. The best is yet to be.”
(“The best” might be a bit of an exaggeration. No, the best was in the past. Still, there’s a lot of good stuff yet to come.)
Fortunately, the fates have allowed me to wind up at an advanced age with a mind that, for some reason, has stayed supple and alive, if not especially brilliant. My mind thinks it’s about thirty-five years of age.
You remember that book, “The Greatest Generation,” by Tom Brokaw, a book that described the generation who grew up in the United States during the deprivation of the Great Depression, and then went on to fight in World War II? Evidently those folks were almost all heroic.
When I heard about that book I realized he was talking about me. I remember every day of the Great Depression and I spent three and a half years in WWII, mostly in the South Pacific, the difference being that I never did anything remotely heroic.
The reason for this post? Well, my family informed me that since I seem to be possessed of an endless number of stories, some of them even interesting, about the at times weird and at times comical situations that I found myself in during those many years, I should write them down. So I thought my blog would be a good place for it; I’ll be posting a few short chapters over time.
I hope there are a few bloggers who may be entertained by what Der Alte has to say. :-)

13 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

I want to see a picture of you brushing your teeth, Mr. B.

Berowne said...

Ha! Wonderful response, willow. But I don't really think you'd enjoy such a picture. :-)

The Bug said...

Can't wait for the stories!

chiccoreal said...

Dear Berowne: WWII vet; THANK-YOU SO MUCH!!! Where would we be without the veterans? Not here that's for sure! Remember you are seasoned; a spicy dish. Aged to perfection!

Pat said...

'I spent three and a half years in WWII, mostly in the South Pacific, the difference being that I never did anything remotely heroic.'

Goodness me! Can you be older than me? If I wore a hat I would take it off in deference to your immaculate little grey cells. Atta boy!

Berowne said...

My thanks to the Bug, chiccoreal and Pat for such encouraging comments.

Unknown said...

In my shop we have a greetings card that says "If things improve with age, you must be approaching magnificence"! I'm looking forward to reading your chapters.

Berowne said...

Derrick: In my shop we have a greetings card that says "If things improve with age, you must be approaching magnificence"!

A card just right for me! Thanks.

Madame DeFarge said...

As long as they're still your own teeth to brush, who cares about such matters as age?

rallentanda said...

I look forward to these wartime stories, especially in the South Pacific. We have all heard the stories of the Yanks down under stealing the girls from the Aussie blokes with their charm and panache.
You might have been my Aunty's boyfriend. The family has been looking for you for years.
I'd duck for cover if it's you:)

Berowne said...

rallentanda: "We have all heard the stories of the Yanks down under stealing the girls from the Aussie blokes with their charm and panache."

That was the tragedy for the Aussie girls; there were no Aussie blokes; they were all off fighting Rommel in North Africa. So the Yanks did their best to step up as replacements. :-)

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

http://jingleyanqiu.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/sunday-special-awards-for-remarkable-memes-and-participants/

Meme participation award
Happy Sunday!
Happy Mother's Day!

Berowne said...

Thanks for the award, Jingle!

 
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