Memoirs of a child of the past century - 18. Chapter 18 Interlude II

Occupied with various other activities, I stopped writing of my story last December.Now,at the beginning March, three months later, I wonder if I should go on and write the rest of my story. The answer is definitely yes. Even if my readers are few, I'm sure my pleasure to write will be shared by others. So let's go!

Having - lived through the major events of the mid-20th century - the global crisis of the 30s, the rise of Nazism, the second world war, idealism and hope for a better life after the Allied victory, the Korean War and the rise of Chinese power, the beginning of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, the economic boom of the sixties - and still being here today and able to evoke with nostalgia my encounters and my memories, is certainly a privilege.

I guess my story of the first periods of my life had a certain interest for the reader, especially for those who have not experienced this period. The following period, the thirty years between 1981 and today, may be less interesting.

My last chapter stops in 1981. I was 52 years old and I had just suffered a bitter defeat , having lost "the international economic empire" (a mini-empire !) which I had built in the 70s. It really was the end of an important phase of my life

The next chapters will present a new beginning, the story of my return to a more modestlifestyle.

I had to learn from my mistakes, relying more on myself than on others, to know how better manage my own qualities and flaws. I strived to be a good head of the family whilst accepting my sexuality, to remain open to all possibilities for my personal improvement, but not forgetting to be helpful to others

t is also the story of my encounters with Death (mine in remission !) and those of my two children. To know how to survive despite all the vicissitudes of life is the result of a constant confrontation with Destiny. (We could also call It otherwise; think about the Biblical account of Jacob's wrestling with the Angel).

Today, I feel I have succeeded in this confrontation. I feel at peace with myself and all the others, dead or alive, that I met on my way.

Before continuing my story, I wanted to tell you that. This is important to me.