Rachel W.

I met Rachel W. on the green pastures of the University of Toronto. We had lunch and she told me that she is the daughter of Prof. Dr. Friedrich Otto Maria von Büchsenspanner. She was impressed that I knew who he was and that I've read his book "Über die Nichtsnützlichkeit". I knew Büchsenspanner returned to Bochum after his two years at the University of Hakata, Japan but what I did not know is that he had a lover there: Aoi, Rachel's mother. Once back in Germany, he never contacted her again and died not knowing that he had a daughter. Six years ago when Rachel went to visit, Aoi told her who her father was and gave her a large box with his papers and documents. Rachel, a natural polyglot like her dad and fluent in German realized quickly that Büchsenspanner prepared another book: "Über die Vollnützlichkeit". The box contained his research and a first draft and so Rachel decided to complete her father's work. Once contacted, Samen und Sauer Verlag GmbH, Göttingen, publisher of the first book said they were very interested.

For the record: Büchsenspanner's book that caused scandal and sensation in academic circles, describes, details and demonstrates the futility of making people acknowledge, understand, accept and act on ideas different from their own. Apparently his next book describes the step by step process to persuade people to get, acknowledge, understand, welcome, accept and act on ideas different from their own beliefs, convictions, doctrines, opinions and perceptions.

The so determined  look on Rachel's face made me think she may just succeed. I wished her luck and asked her to send me a signed copy.

Lambchop Gitta Stick

I met Gitta in the Wallace-Emmerson park, she had a bunch of seedlings in her hand and a quiet, serene air on her face. 

When she was a little girl (she showed me a picture) they called her Lambchop - she was that sweet. Later, in high school she thought, she became fierce. Recently a passer-by  commented on the shape and size of her hips. Gitta picked up a stick and poked him in the left eye. Her Worship Suzanna Clarkson-Bolz, of the Ontario Court of Justice, in light of first offence and all that, gave her a stern warning and asked her to plant 108 urban pine trees.

She does have spectacular hips (Gitta, not Her Worship)

Twenty-Seven

Many years ago I had a lover. It was an older woman. She was almost twenty-seven. Quite a while later I had another lover. It was a younger woman. She was barely twenty-seven. Our math teacher at Hochwerdershausen Junior High was Frau Zwerg and she was twenty-seven. We learned the the basics of arithmetic. I forgot all my lovers, but I never forget Frau Zwerg, she said that three times seven is twenty-seven!