Dear Janos,
These words of greeting are not for your 80th birthday, because you are not 80, just twice 40. That is a good number, because we have known each other for at least 40 years, give or take a few decades. Yet, you have remained the same shy, soft-spoken young man who - for some unfathomable reason- had been dreaded by most Leopoldstadt mothers with pretty daughters.
Since you have spent the decades that followed those carefree years of persecution "engaged to" scholarship and research, they barely left you time for women, let alone for marriage! Therefore now, when you are reaching the years of midlife crisis, you should take pleasure in your family, fame and fortune, let your (silver) hair down, and pick a hobby to entertain yourself for the many years to come. Have you ever considered the idea of looking into the Middle Ages? Especially medieval history could become an interesting field of inquiry...
But no more lame jokes! Dear Janos, have a wonderful birthday, enjoy the love and admiration of your family, friends and colleagues. Keep working, because your lectures and writings continue to impact your students and peers alike. American teenagers usually end such greetings with the letters, "Ff." Let me join them here : Congratulations, and "Friends forever"! Daisy
Marianna D. Birnbaum
