He is 95 at this time, and is still very independent.
He is a classical musician who to this day plays his cello, and composes music which is performed by several chamber groups regularly.
At age 70, he gave up smoking (a life-long habit), and became a vegetarian.
He still lives alone in his own home and is self-sufficient.
Well, that's a snapshot of who this extraordinary man is.
Unfortunately, we live in different cities, and don't get to see each other much, although we do talk on the phone on a regular basis. Our meeting was not all pleasure, because certain legal papers needed to be signed. But once that was taken care of, our lunch date was wonderfully reminiscent, and I even managed to surprise him with a certain memory - that of his first car!
I was about 12 years old at the time, and visiting with him (my parents had split up by then). He told me he had a surprise for me, but was not forthcoming with the surprise for what to me seemed like a long time. As the minutes ticked by, I became more and more petulant and impatient, while he just kept telling me that when I saw the surprise, I would not only be smiling, but laughing. And *still* he kept me waiting!
Finally, after about a half-hour, he told me to get my sweater, and took me outside. We walked for a couple of blocks to a small garage. I was totally mystified now as he led me to it. With all drama, he opened up the garage door and showed me -- his brand new second-hand car!
And to this day, I remember the make - it was a Henry J!!
(No, I wouldn't be surprised if no one knows this make now, since production was discontinued around 1954.)
I related the story and watched the memory of all this surface in him, until he was laughing heartily.
All I could think of as we parted was gratitude that I still have this relationship with him. And to think - I carry these genes in me!!
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