And suddenly somewhere this last week I turned 48… Still on the good side of the 50 (if I ever would care :P).
It are weird times… times of fast changes… and at times moments of sadness, but overall good times. But I have to admit that at times I have the feeling that in, lets say, the last five years I lived the experiences that normally fit in 15 years. But as said, overall in a good way…
Of course I ran into Marion. I will never forget that afternoon on the busy terrace of a café where this nice looking lady asked me if she could share the table I was sitting. I surely will never forget the Christmas that followed on that.
Without doubt this leaded to the biggest change in my life for me.
Then the job change come along. The nice team I ended up in there. Great environment to work (I say “great”, not perfect :P). Nice direct colleagues. Always something to laugh about, but also always willing to help each other. Challenging work… So a nice place to work.
The new job leaded to the year that I stayed in Amsterdam. Of course it was nice to learn more about the city where I was born. Also I saw many of the places my parents told me about.
In meantime the health of my mother sadly slowly turned worse. And it was needed for her own good that she was taken into a caring home that could support her with the problems her weak body were causing her. And as I said so many times, her body may have been weak… her spirit was strong. And that was her strength.
Around that time I was offered to rent an apartment in the town of Heemskerk. I accepted and rented the place for a bit more then a year.
For already a long time I decided that I would love to buy the apartment, but for certain reasons things to arrange just started begin this year. Talks about mortgages and percentages started.
End of March this year I knew that I arranged a mortgage.
A date was set to officially transfer the house to me…. 11 April 2011. The birthday of my father (he passed away around 14 years ago).
Then one week before April the 11th I heard my mother had passed away. That brought a lot of sadness for us. And still it is very often in my mind.
So on the Friday after that sad day, we had the funeral of my mother. To have on the next Monday the apartment officially transferred to me. To run directly into my birthday.
And yes, I only mentioned the high lights of the last five years. So many more things happened…. but in the end it all brought me where I am now and I am not complaining about that.
Yes Rob, it has been so very breathtaking years for you, this in many ways.
But the years together have been great. It is wonderful to have such a caring person as you at my side. It is as my father said once about us, we add balance to each others life. I think he is right, but there is a lot more to it. But that is not something to be talked about here on your public forum.
Looking forward to coming years together.
Happy Birthday to you.
And offcourse we will drink 1 on your birthday and your new house when you come to Oldenzaal!