1 July

17 years ago today, dad died. That's him on the left. From the generation whose young lives were taken by war. Never spoke of it. Part of that huge wave of European migration post-WW2 that transformed Australia, with fantastic energy and intelligence and determination. Australia was a wild, exciting melting pot in those days. Now it takes its cues more from the US, with its dreary 'freedom' ideas that lead to public squalor and private riches. He'd have been disgusted with that, like most Germans he saw a problem, and just wanted it fixed. Fast, with no fuss. A nation of craftsmen, to this day. Of course I miss him, but losing somebody for me just begins a process of understanding of what they mean in your life. You never really understand that until much later I don't think, it takes death for that understanding to unroll, over time. Or even a breakup, in love. At the time it's all just happening. No sympathies please, it was a lot of years ago! Just reflections from me. I think of him when we talk about 'resilience' today, the tiny, laughable things that apparently make people distressed. Like putting a fucking mask on in a pandemic. Try being torn away from all of your family and friends, forever, to go to a strange country where you don't speak the language, and everybody hates you because you're from the enemy side in the war. He never once complained. I think I get my lack of patience with today's kidult culture, from him.