Celebrating Twice

The stages of a man's life (Click to enlarge).
From the present exhibition, Old Age, in the graphic arts collection of the Augustiner Museum.

The text for the 90-year-old man reads:

At ninety, weak, bent, and lame, 

My rotten life is nothing but sorrow.

Sorry, my life is not rotten. Yes, the dizziness is real, but I'm not quite that bent over as the guy in the picture.

On Friday, the 13th, I invited friends from Freiburg to dinner at the Oberkirch Restaurant for a second celebration of my 90th birthday.

The first celebration already took place on June 9, with my close family also at this first address on Münsterplatz.

None of my guests suffered from Paraskevidekatriaphobia, because everyone accepted my invitation and came to the dinner party.

A general welcome (©TS)

Some guests are looking for their seats (©TS)

The long shot (©TS)

The left-hand side (©TS)

The right-hand side (©TS)

Regarding this second celebration, I asked my guests not to be disappointed about their silver medal, as I still have a bronze medal to award. I will celebrate with the French-speaking part of my family in Geneva on June 20.

 

©US

I continued my welcome speech, sticking to sports.

There are 23 friends present today. This number brings to my mind a soccer team that must be registered for major championships. Such a cadre (Kader in German) often consists of players from two major clubs, who are then joined by individual outstanding players from other clubs, thus completing the Kader.

Am I laughing at my own jokes again? (©US)

Here, the comparison is a bit off, because tonight no clubs are present, but societies (Gesellschaften), i.e., members of the Freiburg-Madison-Gesellschaft and the Freiburger Museumsgesellschaft*.
*Founded as a reading society in 1807

And have you ever heard of players playing for two clubs? With societies, this is possible. Tonight, at least ten of my guests have dual membership, which will help to generate lively conversations between the two Gesellschaften.

In clubs, it's frustrating when key players are absent.

For a birthday party, it is just sad when guests have to cancel:

Among them are

- The director of the Carl-Schurz-Haus, Friederike Schulte, whom I greatly admire, is on a well-deserved vacation with her family

- The president of the Museumsgesellschaft, Professor Gerald Urban, and his wife, Birgül. They are on a family mission in Turkey and

- My good friend Thomas Becker is bicycling in the south of Sweden.

Above all, I miss the vice president of the Museumsgesellschaft, Professor Sabine Wienker-Piepho, who passed away in Freiburg on May 21 after a serious illness. Here is my obituary.

Since most of you knew Sabine, I would like to ask you to rise for a moment of silence in her memory.

I thank you.

The two Freiburg societies presented here enrich my life and have been an anchor, especially after the death of my wife, Elisabeth.

While the president and vice president of the Museumsgesellschaft are not with us, many other eminent members are here tonight.

The Freiburg-Madison-Gesellschaft is represented by its president, Toni Schlegel, along with his wife, Tatjana; by its vice president, Frauke Feix, and her husband, Günther; and by many well-known members.

And then we have a couple of the most valuable players completing tonight's Kader.

Please feel free to compose your dinner from the menu card. Regarding the white wine, I made an egotistical choice and ordered my favorite Gutedel (Chasselas), which pairs perfectly with white asparagus. Like many Germans from the north, I fremdle (feel alienated) with red wines. So I asked landlord Toni Schlegel, who made a good choice for you.

I wish you all bon appétit. Enjoy your meal.

While my guests were choosing their menu, Toni started to praise me.

During Toni's laudatio, Tatjana is admiringly amused,
Red Baron is slightly embarrassed, and Rotburg is sternly interested (©US).

©US

In his humorous speech, Harald went back in history (©TS)

N.B.The photos are a belated birthday surprise by Tatjana (©TS) and Ulli (©US), who shot them to document this memorable evening. I thank you both.

 
I took the liberty of selecting a few of those photos, editing them, and adding them to this blog. If any of my guests does not want to see his/her picture on this blog, please let me know. I shall delete the photo(s) immediately.

*