"Dort wo mann nicht ist, ist das Glueck"
(There where you are not, there is happiness)
One of the famous slogans of Romanticism. Although temperature still reaches 20 degrees Celsius, and i heard a cricket yesterday (october 5th, in the upper North of the Netherlands), days are shortening very fast and we should be aware: fall is in charge now.
Emailing with Paul Drijvers, a colleague working temporarily in Montreal at the Quebec university, reminded me of spring. Of April 13th 2005 to be exactly. At 6 AM a 5 km race started in parc Mont-Royal in Montreal. We had to run to the summit of this city dominating hill twice. About one hundred attendees from AERA2005 were as mad as i was to rise so early just to run your lungs out. At the picture you see me finishing in 19:01 minutes. The American runner finishing second, 10 seconds after me, asked: "I am sorry, but i forgot to ask for your name."
"I'm jos," i panted and had just enough of breath to add a "Nice to meet you."
He shook my hand and looked me straight in the eyes.
"Thanks for leading us, Jos."
For one moment i felt like life was not that bad and world peace was within reach.
Then reality pressed back again.
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